There are born, oh curious reader, in affairs of great moment, two brothers—namely, Novelty and Unbelief, which appear to be the twins of one birth : and while admiration is excited by what is new, at the same time credit is endangered. Though it is true that natural curiosity inclines us to desire the knowledge of new things ; uncertainty respecting their accuracy deprives them of that higher degree of pleasure which they would undoubtedly afford, if, persuaded of their truth, all the perplexity caused by doubt could be dispelled. Desirous, then, to bring before the view of all, the new discovery of the great river of the Amazons (which I undertook by order of his Majesty, as you will presently see); and wishing that, though my story is novel, it should also be relished; while I do not cease to suffer from my fears in respect to accuracy, I hope to assure myself both of the one and the other: the first, by the promise of a new world, new nations, new countries, new occupations, new modes of life, and, to say all in one word, a river of sweet water navigated for more than one thousand three hundred leagues, all, from its sources to its mouth, full of new things: the second, by placing before your eyes the obligations of my position, as a priest of the company of Jesus, as a deputy of his Majesty, and in other capacities, which it neither signifies to you to know, nor to me to repeat; and if, with all this, I can persuade you that I have succeeded in what I laboured for with some care, I shall be rewarded.