306 
APPENDIX. A. 
were actively engaged in them. I shall therefore 
endeavor to do it as plainly and succinctly as pos¬ 
sible, trusting that, unimportant as are the events 
to be detailed in my narrative, they may not on 
that account be wholly devoid of interest, but 
may find some shelter under the old adage, that 
“ inest sua gratia parvis/’ From one error at least, 
that is but too common to writers of all descrip¬ 
tions, whatever be their subject, I flatter myself 
I shall be allowed to have steered clear, that of 
magnifying occurrences, so as to exemplify the 
fable of the mountain in labor; for the very re¬ 
verse is my case, and 1 ought, perhaps, rather to 
dread the having fallen into the opposite extreme; 
a’§ my inclinations, as well as my feelings, would 
have led me to have confined myself principally 
to the leading objects of my voyage, the natural 
history of the island and the manners and cus¬ 
toms of the inhabitants, could I but have per¬ 
suaded myself that I could have done so with 
propriety. Having, as just observed, taken no 
part whatever in politics, and having frequently 
been engaged in excursions at a distance from 
Reikevig, I am of course ignorant of much that 
passed there, and it must be remembered that the 
portion of my narrative that rests upon my own 
authority is far from great; but the remainder I 
have been enabled to fill up in a manner at least 
equally authentic, having been furnished with 
