vi PREFACE. 
mixed fenfation. The hopes with which he under- 
took the voyage, even without being very fanguine, 
contrafted with the difappointment with which he 
now fits down to relate its occurrences, allow him 
little fatisfadion from what has been executed. He 
feels, however, fome confidence of not experiencing 
fevere cenfure when his defign fhall be underftood. 
The work is not offered as elaborate or perfedl. The 
account of Dar-Fur fills up a vacancy in the geo^ 
graphy of Africa; and of a country fo little known, 
the information obtained fhould not be eftimated by 
its quantity, but by its authenticity. Sitting in a 
chamber in Kahira or Tripoli, it is eafy to give a 
plaufible account of Northern Africa, from Sennaar 
and Gondar to Tombudoo and Fez. It would not 
be difficult even to fandion it by the authority of 
the Jelabs. Thefe people are never at a lofs what- 
ever queftion is afked them, and if they know not 
the name of the place inquired for, they recoiled 
fome other place of a name a little refembling it in 
found, and defcribe what they never heard of by 
what they know. With regard to manners they 
are as little to be relied on. Afk but a leading 
queflion, 
