_Firstly,_
MY GRATITUDE TO GOD--
FOR HIS MERCY IN PRESERVING ME THUS FAR,
AND BRINGING ME SAFELY HOME AFTER
SEVERAL YEARS SERVICE IN INDIA,
TO MEET AGAIN ALL (SAVE ONE) THOSE MOST
DEAR TO ME.
_And Secondly,_
MY BOOK TO MY PARENTS,
WITH THE CERTAIN AND HAPPY KNOWLEDGE
THAT THEY WILL READ WITHOUT CRITICISM
AND ONLY WITH AFFECTIONATE INTEREST,
THE ACCOUNT OF MY THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES
WHILE WANDERING IN A REMOTE
AND LOVELY CORNER OF
THE EARTH.