XXX 
PREFACE. 
The chief obscurity, as well as importance, consists in the 
proper names. From my accuracy, therefore, in observing 
the original orthography of these, every advantage which 
could result from a perusal of the manuscript is presented to 
the reader ; for the passages merely descriptive or narrative 
contain few difficulties, and these few are noticed. 
The illustrations and notes above mentioned, as I have 
reason to hope that the time and labour spent in collecting 
them were not employed in vain, shall soon be offered to the 
Publick. They will form part of a Work in which I propose 
to examine the Geographical System of the Asiaticks—to ex 
tract, from a multiplicity of Arabick and Persian Authors, their 
descriptions of Countries and Cities, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, 
Islands, Sc.—to give exact imitations of many original Maps 
preserved in rare and curious manuscripts; and to inquire 
how far the Geographers of Asia agree with those of ancient 
Greece and Rome, and with modern Europeans. I shall col 
lect all the traditions that can illustrate local History and 
Antiquities; and construct Maps, according to the best au 
thorities, not only of the Asiatick regions, but of Africa and 
Europe, as described by Eastern writers? 
* Besides the Geographical Treatises of Abulfeda, Edrisi and others, well knowon to the