The Preface.
It has almost always been the
Fate of those who have made new
Discoveries, to be disesteemed and
slightly spoken of, by such as either
have had no true Relish and
Value for the Things themselves that
are discovered, or have had some
Prejudice against the Persons by
whom the Discoveries were made.
It would be vain therefore and unreasonable
in me to expect to escape
the Censure of all, or to hope
for better Treatment than far
Worthier Persons have met with
before me. But this Satisfaction
I am sure of having, that the
Things themselves in the Discovery
of which I have been imployed,
are most worthy of our Diligentest
Search and Inquiry; being the
various and wonderful Works of
God in different Parts of the
World: And however unfit a Person
I may be in other respects to
have undertaken this Task, yet
at least I have given a faithful Ac-
