Curious,
and may be well worth your Publishing.

Chr. Wren.

TO THE

Right Worshipful

The GOVERNOR, the DEPUTY GOVERNOR, and Four and Twenty Committees of
the Honorable the EAST-INDIA Company, Viz.

Sir Josiah Child Baronet, Governor.
Thomas Papilion Esq; Deputy.

The Right Honorable George Earl of Berkley,
Sir Joseph Ashe Baronet,
Sir Samuel Barnardiston Baronet,
Mr. Christopher Boone,
Mr. Thomas Canham,
Colonel John Clerke,
Mr. John Cudworth,
John Dubois Esquire,
Sir James Edwards Knight, and Alderman,
Richard Hutchinson Esquire,
Mr. Joseph Herne,
Mr. William Hedges,
Sir John Lawrence Knight, and Alderman,
Mr. Nathaniel Letton,
Sir John Moore Knight, and Alderman,
Samuel Moyer Esquire,
Mr. John Morden,
Mr. John Paige,
Edward Rudge Esquire,
Mr. Jeremy Sambrooke,
Mr. William Sedgwick,
Robert Thomson Esquire,
Samuel Thomson Esquire,
James Ward Esquire.

Right Worshipful,

What I formerly Presented you in Writing, having in pursuance of your
Commands now somewhat dressd by the help of the Printer and Graver,
I a second time humbly tender to you. 'Tis I confess at best too mean
a Return for your great Kindness to me. Yet I hope you will not deny
it a favourable Acceptance, since 'tis the whole Return I made from
the Indies after Twenty years stay there; having brought home nothing
else but

(who is also wholly at your Service and Command)

London 1st. of August, 1681.

ROBERT KNOX.

THE PREFACE.

How much of the present Knowledge of the Parts of the World is owing
to late Discoveries, may be judged by comparing the Modern with the
Ancient's Accounts thereof; though possibly many such Histories may
have been written in former Ages, yet few have scaped the Injury of
Time, so as to be handed safe to us. 'Twas many Ages possibly before
Writing was known, then known to a few, and made use of by fewer,
and fewest employed it to this purpose. Add to this, that such as
were written, remain'd for the most part Imprison'd in the Cells of
some Library or Study, accessible to a small number of Mankind, and
regarded by a less, which after perished with the Place or the Decay
of their own Substance. This we may judge from the loss of those many
Writings mentioned by Pliny and other of the Ancients. And we had yet
found fewer, if the Art of Printing, first Invented about 240 years
sin