Xll 
PREFACE. 
templated. Indeed, Dr Leyden himself 
had actually undertaken one on a more ex- 
tended scale, embracing the whole conti- 
nent. A small part was actually written, 
and is included in these volumes ; but his 
departure for India unfortunately prevent- 
ed its completion. In the present work, 
the object has been, not only to include 
the whole of Africa, but to trace the pro- 
gress of discovery from the earliest ages. 
How far this difficult undertaking has been 
successfully performed, must be left to the 
judgment of the reader. 
It was my original wish to preserve the 
portion of the narrative composed by Dr 
Leyden, distinct from the additions made 
to it. On considering, however, the ge- 
neral enlargement which it was necessary 
to give to the work, it appeared that such 
a plan would have broke down entirely 
its unity and connection. It seemed of 
more importance to the public to receive 
a distinctly arranged view of the subject, 
than to be able to distinguish, at a glance, 
the contributions of its respective authors. 
There appeared a necessity, therefore, for 
n 
