PREFACE. 
In offering this narrative to the public, the writer is conscious 
of no personal vanity as an author; that being a character, in 
its usual important sense, to which he forms no pretension. 
During three years’ travelling in the East, he kept a regular 
journal of all he saw worthy observation; and he wrote his re¬ 
marks with the impression of the moment. From this Diary, 
sanctioned by opportunities of comparing his own remarks with 
others, and first with second impressions, he collected the 
matter of these two volumes ; arranging their subjects, without 
altering their language to give it literary grace; a task that 
might have been more than difficult to a man who has passed 
the chief part of his life in foreign countries. Hence, as he lays 
claim to nothing of what is commonly called style, in writing, 
lie trusts in the candour of his reader to judge him by his 
pretensions alone; truth, in what he relates, and fidelity in 
what he copies. A few extracts from a letter with which he 
was honoured by His Excellency Mons, Olinen, the Ptussian 
