SUMATRA. 
373 
JjAVINGthus brought to a clofe, the digeft of fuch materials 
for an Account of the iiland of Siimatra, as I had been indaced, from 
curiofity and love of fcience, to collect t€^cther during my refidence 
there, and have had opportunity of acquiring fince my return ; and 
having endeavored to render my lahori as fitting my talents woiild 
allow, to meet the eye of the public, I now fubmit them chearfuUy, 
but not confidently, to their infpedion. 1 am fenfible of the awfulnefs 
of the tribunal before which I am going to appear; but I alio know 
the indulgence it is ever ready to Ihew, in a particular manner, to thofe 
whofe writings tend to eftablifh fads, rather than fyftems, and humbly 
to defer ibe things as they exift, rather than to difplay the powers of a 
creative imagination. 
To thofe, who may objeft that my defcription of the Ifland is in fome 
rcfpe<£b mcomplete, and in many points, unfcicntific, I am ready to 
avow it's manifeil deficiencies, which I feel the flrongeft conviftion of- 
I can only flace in juftification, that I was encouraged by perfons of the 
firil confideration In the world of fcience, and in fomemeafure againft my 
own feelings, to prepare for publication whatever materials I did pofTefs for 
the Natural hiftory of the country j as laying thereby a foundation ftone, in- 
a new building, upon which others hereafter might raife a more perfect 
fiiperftruaure. Many wUl doubtlefs obfer^ e, that the detail of man- 
ners and culloms of an uncWilized people, dcfcends often to circum* 
ftanc.es fo trivial, as neither to intcreft nor to amufe a reader who has 
been accuJflomcd to perufe volumes that treat of more important topics.- 
To thefe 1 reply, that every man is inclined to fuppofe his own favorite 
objed of purfult, to be the moft generally interelling; but candour 
fliould induce them to refleO:, that what to them appear infignificant mi* 
nutise, by others may be regarded as worthy matter of philofophical cu- 
rio'fity. Such details, in fad: often prove the moil acceptable parts of a 
work, from their greater chance of originality. All the races of man^ 
kind 
