The PREFACE.
seem to have a great desire to be the first Authors of discovering such or such Plants, and to have them carry their Names in the first Place, but I endeavour'd rather to find if any thing I had observ'd was taken Notice of by other Persons; I therefore look'd into most Books of this Nature, and the greatest part of what I found, is publish'd in the Catalogue of Jamaica Plants I printed about ten Years since, wherein I endeavour'd to do right to the first Authors and the Publick; It is a Catalogue of the Plants I met with at Jamaica, &c. Which I think, for Synonymous Names of the Plants therein mentioned, is somewhat more Copious and exact than any other before it: And which may be of some Use to inquisitive Persons, especially when they shall have this History of the things therein contain'd. I have not reprinted in this Book those Names or Titles, because 'twas great Labour, and is done there already, but have only added the Synonymous Names I found in such Books as are since Publish'd or come to my Hands. The looking after the Observations of Others, to make this more Exact and Useful, has given an Opportunity to several People to anticipate me, by either Publishing such Things as I have shewn them, told them, or communicated to Mr. Courten, from whom they had them; wherein they have committed some Mistakes, for want of full Information or exact Memory.
I have been sometimes short, in giving the Uses of these Plants, but I hope I may be understood, and the Author whose Name is set down (Abbreviated,) may on any Ambiguous or Obscure Passage be consulted, for those Notes were written to bring to my Mind what they said, to be perused at leisure, and modell'd after, which I have never yet had time to do. The principal Design of them was, that the Inhabitants of those Places, might understand what Uses the Plants they have growing Sponte or in Gardens with them, are put to in any of the Countries wherever they grow, that so they may have recourse to them in Cases that require them. It is very hard to carry thither such European Simples as are proper for the Cure of all sorts of Diseases, and People are put to it to find such as are effectual in some of them, and yet will keep their Vertues. This puzzl'd me several times, as may be seen in the following Medical Observations.
The first Volume contains an Introduction, giving an Account of the Situation, Temperature, Diseases, &c. of the Island, which seem'd necessary to be premis'd to the History itself. After this, follows the Voyage thither,and
