FIRST PORTUGUESE VOYAGES. 
49 
the states of Europe, the lead should have been 
taken by Portugal, a power which did not seem 
destined to act any great part on the theatre of the 
world. Dr Robertson, in the introduction to his 
History of America, has well illustrated the causes 
which roused in that country the spirit of enter- 
prise, and turned it into the sphere of exertion. 
The progress and successive discoveries of the 
Portuguese along the coast of Africa, are describ- 
ed by that great historian with such animation 
and eloquence, as must have rendered them fami- 
liar to almost every reader. But few, perhaps, 
are aware of the vast exertions which that nation 
made to penetrate into the interior, and with such 
success, as to reach farther, in every direction, 
than has been attained by any of the moderns, 
with the sole exceptions of Park and of Browne. 
' « The details of these important transactions, have 
been hitherto locked up in the writings of the 
Portuguese authors, or have been reported else- 
where in a very mutilated and imperfect state. 
A pretty copious abstract of them, therefore, 
will probably not be unacceptable to those who 
feel any interest in the steps by which discovery 
proceeded through the interior regions of this con- 
tinent. * 
The encouragement afforded by the royal fa- 
mily, and the general excitement throughout the 
nation, gave a sufficient impulse to the career 
VOL. T. D 
