The Bible in Spain, Vol. 1 [of 2] / Or, the Journeys, Adventures, and Imprisonments of an Englishman in an Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures in the Peninsula

Transcribed from the 1896 John Murray edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
OR, THE JOURNEYS, ADVENTURES, AND IMPRISONMENTS OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN AN ATTEMPT TO CIRCULATE THE SCRIPTURES IN THE PENINSULA.
by GEORGE BORROW.
A NEW EDITION , WITH NOTES AND A GLOSSARY , By ULICK RALPH BURKE, M.A., author of “a history of spain,” etc.
IN TWO VOLUMES . VOL. I.
with map and engravings.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1896.
london: printed by william clowes and sons, limited, stamford street and charing cross.
It is very seldom that the preface of a work is read; indeed, of late years most books have been sent into the world without any. I deem it, however, advisable to write a preface, and to this I humbly call the attention of the courteous reader, as its perusal will not a little tend to the proper understanding and appreciation of these volumes.
The work now offered to the public, and which is styled The Bible in Spain , consists of a narrative of what occurred to me during a residence in that country, to which I was sent by the Bible Society, as its agent, for the purpose of printing and circulating the Scriptures. It comprehends, however, certain journeys and adventures in Portugal, and leaves me at last in “the land of the Corahai ,” to which region, after having undergone considerable buffeting in Spain, I found it expedient to retire for a season.
It is very probable that had I visited Spain from mere curiosity, or with a view of passing a year or two agreeably, I should never have attempted to give any detailed account of my proceedings, or of what I heard and saw. I am no tourist, no writer of books of travels; but I went there on a somewhat remarkable errand, which necessarily led me into strange situations and positions, involved me in difficulties and perplexities, and brought me into contact with people of all descriptions and grades; so that, upon the whole, I flatter myself that a narrative of such a pilgrimage may not be wholly uninteresting to the public, more especially as the subject is not trite; for, though various books have been published about Spain, I believe that the present is the only one in existence which treats of missionary labour in that country.