A New Description of the World, Frontispiece – Introduction
Behold How Providence In all Affairs,
Governs the world, Earth, water, Aire, fire, Stars,
Men and the Glorys of the Mighty frame.
Depend upon the bright Celestial Dame.
A NEW DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD.
OR A Compendious Treatise of the Empires, Kingdoms, States, Provinces, Countries, Islands, Cities and Towns of Europe, Asia, Africa and America: In their Scituation, Product, Manufactures, and Commodities, Geographical and Historical.
WITH An Account of the Natures of the People, in their Habits, Customes, Warrs, Religions and Policies, &c.
AS ALSO Of the Rarities, Wonders and Curiosities, of Fishes, Beasts, Birds, Rivers, Mountains, Plants, &c. With several Remarkable Revolutions, and Delightful Histories.
Faithfully Collected from the best Authors, By S. Clark.
LONDON, Printed for Hen. Rhodes next Door to the Swan Tavern, near Brides-Lane, in Fleet-Street, …689.
Licensed, August the 11th. 1688.
THE Introduction Addressed to the READER.
WHEN the great and wise Creator of the Universe thought it in Eternal Wisdom convenient to build the Mansion, all Creatures now inhabited, he left nothing undone that might contribute to the Glory and Magnificence of so great a work; and lest Mankind, the top of the Creation, should grow supine, and neglect the filling or peopling every part of so admirable a Frame, he even compelled them to do it by confounding their Language at Babel, and thereby obliging them as they multiplied, to scatter over the Face of the Earth, that none of his wonderous works might remain obscure or unobserved to those for whose use and pleasure they were made; by which means the people in sundry Tribes, wandering from place to place, incroaching by degrees, as men began to multiply, planted themselves in the most advantagious Countries, every one striving for the best: however, through Wars, Pestilence, Inundations, and other strange Revolutions and Accidents, it is past all peradventure, that the bad as well as the good found possessors, as at this day. Though, Reader, I shall not trouble you in this place, with entring upon the original Peopling of Kingdoms and Countries, …s to particulars; but let you know that my care has been to present you with Geographical and Historical Description of the World, as it formerly stood, and at present stands: and though upon first thought it may seem strange, that in so small a Volume so large a one can be contained, yet upon perusal you will find that nothing material is omitted, that can be required to render satisfaction upon this occasion: insomuch, that by well considering this Work, a mean Capacity may suddenly know how the Worlds mighty Fabrick is disposed, and soon become acquainted with every Country under Heaven, enough to render him capable not only of contemplating the Goodness of the Almighty, in his VVorks and Creatures, but readily Discoursing, even with the most knowing Travellers, and without hazarding the danger of treacherous Seas, Winds, Robbers, and a VVorld of Inconveniencies that attend an expensive search into these Affairs; securely Travel in Imagination from Pole to Pole. For to be brief, there is no Kingdom, Province, or Estate, that is wittingly left out of this History or Treatise; and as to what is most material, the Account is considerably large; wherefore recommending it to the benefit of my Country Men, I remain Reader,
Your Friend to serve, In what I may, S. Clark.