'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎14] (25/905)

xiv
PREFACE.
It remains to say a few words respecting the Work, of
which the two first volumes are now offered to the public.
When the preparation of the Work was proposed by Sir
John Hobhouse, President of the Board of Control Formally known as the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1784 to supervise the activities of the East India Company. , the Author
felt that, irrespective of impaired health, the habits and ac
quirements of a soldier were not exactly calculated to qualify
him for so serious a task; but, it being observed to him that
the task most naturally devolved on the Commander of the
Expedition, he expressed his willingness to do his best; and he
engaged to execute the Work in accordance with the outline
then approved of—which was, that the account of the voyage
should be preceded by a geographical and historical sketch of
the countries with which the rivers Euphrates and Tigris have
been intimately connected from the earliest times.
The Author, though not unwilling to give the necessary time
to the Work, expressed a hope that the Government would
bear the expense of the publication; and he was informed that
a liberal contribution would be made. After some solicitation
on the part of Sir John Hobhouse, and Mr. Robert Gordon,
then Secretary to the Board of Control Formally known as the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1784 to supervise the activities of the East India Company. , a grant of 1500/. was
promised from the Treasury, and the expectation being also
entertained that 600/. might be contributed by the India Board,
as well as a like sum by the India House, it was presumed that
the Work might proceed without a risk of loss. The Author
consequently engaged to commence the task, as soon as he
should have finished laying down a survey of the Euphrates
and Tigris, for the use of the steamers sent out under Lieu
tenant Lynch, of the Indian Navy.
To embrace in their full extent the subjects of this extensive
field of inquiry, and to treat them in a manner corresponding to
the interest which has ever attached to the region described,
may seem to be, properly, the task of an individual more per-