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 merly; but also, by comparing the Writings of the first Restorers of the Knowledge of Simples, Matthiolus, Dodonæus, Fuchsius, Turner, and the rest, with the Writings of Ray and Morison, that it has been always growing, and will do so still, till the Subject is exhausted.

It is well known that Travelling in Mahometan Countries is very dangerous; that it is what no Man that makes Learning his Aim in Journeying, would willingly undertake, if he were not very ardently possessed with the Love of it. So that whatsoever Perils the Ancient Sages endured in their Journeys into Egypt for Knowledge, are equalled at least, if not out-done, by our Modern Sages; to use that Word, in Sir William Temple's Sence, for one that goes far and near to seek for Knowledge. Nay, I may safely add, that a few inquisitive and learned Travellers, such as Rauwolfius, Prosper Alpinus, Bellonius, Guillandinus, and Sir George Wheeler, have acquainted the learned Men of these Parts of the World with the Natural History of the Countries of the Levant, not only better than they could have known it by reading the Books of the Ancients; but, in many Particulars, better than the Ancients themselves, Natives of those very Countries, knew it, if