Dr. Kubassek János szerk.: A Kárpát-medence természeti értékei (Érd, 2004)

Dr. Péter Rózsa: Robert Townson (1762-1827): a pioneer scientific explorer of the Carpathian Basin

0762-4827): ajfaoweefc identifie eaft/o&ev- oft/ie fid^icU/iùivi PMa&i/?i ° te "It must be pleasing to every reader to see at one view all the principal natural and artificial productions of the country, and the different nations which inhabit it, express on a map, besides what is generally marked upon them. I am not the author of it, and the only merit I can claim is that of having adapted it to the English reader, by translating what admitted of translation, and making some trifling alterations in it. I have, for instance, as far as my information extended, distinguished the hot mineral water from the cold; I have altered the denomination of Diamond to Rock Crystal, Pelecanus buffanus to Pelecanus Onocrotalus, and Mus noricus to Marmota alpina, as these appellations were certainly erroneous. I have added three or four new signs, and extended the plan of the author by signifying more of the productions, as horned cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, honey, silk, corn, &c. &c. by figures of these objects, and not by letters; and other signs I have improved, I have marked the seat of the CUMANIANS, JAZYGERS, and HAYDUKES, and added the post-roads, and my own route. In the explanation of the signs, which consisted of three languages, the Latin, German, and Hungarian, I have omitted the German and added the English. The petrography is wholly by me. It will probably be thought that some of the productions should have been omitted as too trifling, and that others might have been added, Mr. Korabinsky, the author of it, who does not pretend to be a man of science or a naturalist, has only given it that degree of perfection his humble situation permitted and I would rather be censured for altering too little tan too much. Though so many things are noted on this map, I hope it will ttot be found confused; for though the petrography, as well as the nations, are marked by colours, yet the subjects of each may be easily distinguished, as the nations are denoted by a mere outline, whilst the petrography is washed. And of through carelessness in colouring the petrography, a doubt should arise what is designed by any colour, the figures 1 to 13, which I have added to the colours, will, through the corresponding figures in the table of colours, clear up the doubt. Had I had opportunities of observing the nature of the rocks through a more extensive track of country, it would have been worth while to have made a separate map on this subject; but circumscribed as my observation have been, I think it is not. When mineralogy and physical geography shall be more cultivated, ivhich one day they certainly will, these maps will become common, and their union will give an easy and visible representation of the coat-