N 0 one can be more conscious than myself of the shortcomings of this book. I will not, however, apologise for them, as I am sure that my readers will make full allowances for the difficulties and perils which beset the explorer of an unknown territory. I have avoided technical language, and have endeavoured throughout to introduce such popular explanations as might make the book intelligible to any ordinary educated person. Readers who have no special fondness for philological investigations will probably content themselves with the perusal of the first six chapters and the last.