尊敬的读者：人们常说，世界上有一半人不知道另一半人是如何生活的。为了给您增添些这方面的知识，我在之前一本历书里介绍了哈得逊湾的人们的生活习俗，以及那里极度寒冷的天气所带来的影响。尽管在一些读者看来，那些事情相当奇怪，听起来像是天方夜谭，但那的确是真实的。这一次，我将告诉你一些热带国家的事情，关于其气候的多样性（人总觉得那里一成不变）非常值得一说。这份记述摘自伯格先生的日记。他是法国的一名学者，接受国王的派遣去测量春秋等分线上一处的纬度，借以解决英法学者们关于地球形状的争论。同时也有另外一些人出于同样的目的，被遣往北极圈内的拉普兰地区。在那个国家，山峰高耸入云，相形之下，我们这里最高的山不过是些小土坡。这篇摘录主要是说群山之间的国家。今年的历书写法和往年相同，不过我在第三栏标出了一些主要恒星的名字，及它们在晚上九点到达子午线的日期，以便让那些不熟悉的人们学习和了解。
我是您忠实的朋友和仆人，
R.桑德斯
没有妻子的男人只能算半个男人。
A Man without a Wife, is but half a Man.
少说话，多做事。
Speak little, do much.
常出远门的人要吃少。
He that would travel much,
should eat little.
酒后吐真言。
When the Wine enters, out goes the Truth.
若想被人爱，先去爱别人，并让自己变得可爱。
If you would be loved, love and be loveable.
索取和拥有，有时也要花大价钱。
Ask and have, is sometimes dear buying.
心急的母狗生出瞎狗仔。
The hasty Bitch brings forth blind Puppies.
没有温饱，法律无用；有法不依，饥饿横行。
Where there is Hunger, Law is not regarded; and where Law is not regarded, there will be Hunger.
两枝干柴点燃绿枝。
Two dry Sticks will burn a green One.
诚实人吃苦耐劳，终有收获；不诚实的人享乐作福，终有报应。
The honest Man takes Pains, and then enjoys Pleasures; the Knave takes Pleasure, and then suffers Pains.
考虑三件事情：你从哪里来，要到哪里去，你得指望谁。
Think of three Things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.
穷人没有法律。为什么？因为没钱就没有法律。
Necessity has no Law; Why? Because "tis not to be had without Money.
烂钢永远锻不出好刀。
There was never a good Knife made of bad Steel.
狼皮每年换，本性却难移。
The Wolf sheds his Coat once a Year, his Disposition never.
学习他人的人聪明。
控制冲动的人强大。
知足的人富有。
但没人可以做到。
Who is wise? He that learns from every One.
Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions.
Who is rich? He that is content.
Who is that? Nobody.
饱暖思淫欲。
A full Belly brings forth every Evil.
智慧之门永远敞开。
The Doors of Wisdom are never shut.
药草浑身是宝，人类美德很少。
Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men.
尝着蜂蜜时，别忘了苦胆。
When you taste Honey, remember Gall.
无知并不可耻，可耻的是不肯学。
Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn.
上帝把所有东西都赐予了勤奋。
God gives all Things to Industry.
光着身子的人，一百个小偷也榨不到油水，特别是他的皮肤已经脱落。
An hundred Thieves cannot strip one naked Man, especially if his Skin"s off.
勤能补拙，懒惰生拙。
Diligence overcomes Difficulties, Sloth makes them.
小错不补，终酿大错。
Neglect mending a small Fault, and "twill soon be a great One.
得不义之财实际上是一种损失。
Bad Gains are truly Losses.
长寿的生命或许并不足够美好，但美好的生命一定足够长寿。
A long Life may not be good enough, but a good Life is long enough.
与缺点奋勇对抗，与邻居和睦相处，每个新年铸就更好的自我。
Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every NewYear find you a better Man.