The Preface. 
It has almoit always been the 
Fate of thofe who have made new 
Difeoveries, to be difefteemed and 
flightly fpoken of , by fuch as ei- 
ther have had no true Relifh and 
Value for the Things themfehes that 
are difeovered, or have had fome 
Prejudice againft the Perfons by 
whom the Difeoveries were made. 
It would be vain therefore and un- 
reafonable in me to exped: to ef- 
cape the Cenfure of all, or to hope 
for better Treatment than far 
Worthier Perfons have met with 
before me. But this Satisfadion 
I am fure of having, that the 
Things themphes in the Difeovery 
of which I have been imployed, 
are moll worthy of our Diligenteft 
Search and Inquiry ; being the 
various and wonderful Works of 
God in different Parts of the 
World : And however unfit a Per- 
fon I may be in other refpeds to 
have undertaken this Task , yet 
at leaft I have given a faithful Ac- 
count, 
