ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 373
Conclufion.
JLJL A VIN G thus brought to a clofe, the digeft of fuch materials
for an Account of the ifland of Sumatra, as I had been induced, from
curiofity and love of fcience, to collect together during my refidence
there, and have had opportunity of acquiring fince my return; and
•having endeavored to render my labors as fitting as my talents would
allow, to meet the eye of the public, I now fubmit them chearfully,
but not confidently, to their infpe&ion. I am fenfible of the awfulnefs
of the tribunal before which I am going to appear; but I alfo know
the indulgence it is ever ready to (hew, in a particular manner, to thofe
whofe writings tend to eitabiilh facts, rather than fyftems, and humbly
to defcribe things as they exift, rather than to difplay the powers of a
creative imagination»
To thofe, who may object that my defcription of the Ifland is in fome
tefpects incomplete, and in many points, unfcientific,. I am ready to
avow it's manifeft deficiencies, which I feel the ftrongeft conviction of.
I can only ftate in justification, that I was encouraged by perfons of the
firft confideration in the world of fcience, and in fome meafure againft my
own feelings, to prepare for publication whatever materials I did poffefsfor
the Natural hiftory of the country ; as laying thereby a foundation ftone, in
a new building, upon which others hereafter might raife a more peifeö;
fuperftru&ure. Many will doubtlefs obferve, that the detail of manners
and cuftoms of an uncivilized people, defcends often to circumftances
fo trivial, as neither to intereft nor to amufe a reader who has
been accuitomed to perufe volumes that treat of more important topics.
To thefe I reply, that every man is inclined to fuppofe his own favorite
object of purfuit, to be the moft generally interefting; but candour
Ihould induce them to reflect, that what to them appear infignificant minutiae,
by others may be regarded as worthy matter of philofophical curiofity.
Such details, in fact often prove the moft acceptable parts of a
work, from their greater chance of originality. All the races of mankind