ABSTRACT
‘MY father having fully gratified the curiosity of his host, with a recital of his adventures, respectfully inquired of the monarch, by what wonderful circumstance he became acquainted with the language of Africa? He replied, with great complacence, “It would require much time, and various degrees of information, to explain to you / adequately what you ask. Suffice it then at present, briefly to observe, that the ocean is more replete with human beings than the earth; and is divided into four large monarchies, which have ever preserved the freest intercourse and amity: that being descended from a race of kings who swayed, from the beginning of things, the trident of this southern sea, I travelled in my youth to every quarter of the globe, and viewed the productions, manners, customs, of every submarine city and nation in the world.
