OR THE TRAVELLER'S REMEMBRANCER. BY J. R. JACKSON, SECRETARY TO THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND MEMBER OF VARIOUS OTHER SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY SOCIETIES AT HOME AND ABROAD. L'art d'observer est le seul moyen d'acquérir des connoissances JAMES LONDON: MADDEN & Co., (SUCCESSORS TO PARBURY & Co.,) MDCCCXLI. PREFACE. THE object of the present work is simply, as its title indicates, to point out to the uninitiated traveller what he should observe, and to remind the one who is well informed, of many objects which, but for a remembrancer, might escape him. In the execution of our task we have not confined ourselves to a mere list of questions, but have endeavoured to excite a desire for useful knowledge by awakening curiosity. The intending traveller, it is hoped, will, from a perusal of the present work see what an immense field of physical and moral research lies open to his investigation, and be encouraged to exertion by the assurance that, without being what is termed a philosopher, he may not only do much to enlarge the sphere of his own ideas, but acquire the means of communicating to others a great mass of valuable or interesting information. We are fully sensible that our labour is yet very imperfect, and, under this impression, would not have : presumed to bring it before the public did we not feel confident that, imperfect as it may be, it will still be useful indeed, when we consider the total absence of anything like solid information given to us by the legion of those who quit their native country to roam for a while over the various parts of the globe, we cannot but think that some good must result from pointing out how their peregrinations may be turned to better account than they have hitherto been. Our book is intended for general use, and we therefore hope it will prove acceptable alike to those who travel luxuriously over civilized Europe, and to those adventurous and ardent spirits who wander undaunted among hostile tribes, braving every obstacle and enduring every hardship in search of knowledge. It were superfluous to speak of the present facilities for travelling, but we will remark that, in proportion as those facilities are great, the result should be beneficial, and this it will be, (as far as regards a true knowledge of the earth and of the various families of mankind, with their laws, religion, manners, customs, virtues and vices,) only when travellers shall have learnt how and what to observe. |