How well he has succeeded in this Attempt, I leave to the Reader to
judge. 'Tis certain, that he was a Man of Parts and very good Learning,
considering the Age he liv'd in, and the way of studying in those Times.
There are a great many lively Stroaks in it; and I doubt not but a
judicious Reader will find his Account in the Perusal of it.

I was not willing ('though importun'd) to undertake the translating it
into _English_, because I was inform'd that it had been done twice
already; once by Dr. _Ashwell_, another time by the _Quakers_, who
imagin'd that there was something in, it that favoured their
Enthusiastick Notions. However, taking it for granted, that both these
Translations we're not made out of the Original _Arabick_, but out of
the _Latin_; I did not question but they had mistaken the Sense of the
Author in many places. Besides, observing that a great many of my
friends whom I had a desire to oblige, and other Persons whom I would
willingly incline to a more favourable Opinion of _Arabick_ Learning,
had not seen this Book; and withal, hoping that I might add something by
way of Annotation or _Appendix_, which would not be altogether useless;
I at last ventur'd to translate it a-new.

I have here and there added a Note, in which there is an account given
of some, great Man, some Custom of the Mahometans explain'd, or
something of that Nature, which I hope will not be unacceptable. And
lest any Person should, through mistake, make any ill use of it, I have
subjoin'd an _Appendix_, the Design of which the Reader may see in its
proper place.

SIMON OCKLEY.