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4 INTRODUCTION.not the productions of recent travellers prove how much is ornitted ofwhat is of importance to be known, and how much the most assiduonsare liable to misinformation and error, it is probable that the presentwork wonld never have been sent to the press.At the same time it must be added, that the anthor has ever remainedfirmly convillced how much it behoved a great, enlightened, and commercialnation to advert with due attention to the benefits which, bythe intercourse hereafter pointedout, would he received and conferredby a certain politicalconnexion. The turn which the generaltaffairs ofthe world are atthe present moment taking, gives additionaI force tothis impression, and constitutes one of the several motives which concurto hisdecisionon the present moment of publication.Thus muchit has been thought necessary to prernise upon certain points wherein itwas presurned the reader would choose to he informed on taking upthework.A variety and succession of reasons of the strongest kind calledfordelay, and under sorne circurnstances might have irnposed total silence.These however now no longer exist.Explanation on the subjectcouldonly gratify curiosity ofan idle description, and such possesses no daim.Even, however, when the obstacles above alhlded to were ascertainedto he out of the way, the work, frorn the nature of it, could proceedbut by very tardy steps to publication.