Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-27
BUTTONS PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
Daring Journey by the African Ex-
plorer Who Has Lately Died.

A Daring Journey by the African Ex-
plorer Who Has Lately Died.
Philadelphia Times.
At Yambu Burton hired four cameis
and after few days rest, during which
he changed his dress for that of an Arab
he set out with grain caravan for the
holy city. The caravan consisted of 200
camels, travelling in Indian file. head tied
to tail Certain of Burton's manners and
modes of speech excited first the curiosity
hun bred times his immediate companions
and servants were on the point of denounc-
ing him. But he soon distinguished
himself for bravery and generaIship in the
frequent encounters with the Bedouin rob
bers of the desert and it was not long be-
fore his powers of persuasion and his
seeming reverence had overcome all their
suspicious. The pilgrimage had not been
out 10 days before ne was accorded a posi-
ton scarcely inferior to that of the grand
pasha of the caravan.
On one occasion he used very clever
strategy to ward off the rapacity of the
thieves. The caravan had just come to a
halt one morning, when the Bedouins
swept down upon upon the camp, terroriz-
Jig it. As their thieving was going on,
without any opposition, their numbers be-
ing overpowering. the Shiek Abdulah-
the name by which Burton was known
walked into their midst and called out =
80, ye vile despoilers of the desert
worms of the devil, ye deserve not the
mercy of the God of the faithful But. if
We wish to win the intercession of the
Prophet, take this pearl which | will give
you. at the height of the sun, 20 DAYS hence,
let it melt into sone Of the springs of the
waste; then battle ye in the spring anG the
wrath of Allah will be appeasad Seize
this chance!'
The superstitious Bedouins, awestricken,
reverently took the pearl, gave up their
plumber and silently disappeared
At last, after a journey Of great difficulty
and danger, the party came within view
of the white mosques of Medina, and feast
ing their eyes with d gaze at the holy
city. the whole caravan joined in the
prayer:
'Oh Allah. bless the Iastsof prophets, the
seal Of prophecy, with blessings in num-
Der as the stars of heav and the waves of
the sea and the sands of the waste-bless
him, o Lord of might and majesty. as
long as the cornfeld and dates continue
to feed mankind.
Sheik Abdullah after performing the
required additions and dressed In white
clothes. the favorite color of the prophet,
started on his holy errand at the mosque.
Here his ignorance of a very small matter
nearly caused his death. At the door Of
the mosque he removed his sandals, but
instead of putting MS right foot forward
crossing the threshold, he unknowingy
stepped in with the left foot One of the
E. l, f,,i 10 i L
ticed the action, which Is considered a
gross sacrilege, and drawing a knife from
underneath his shroud, walked after the
Englishman. But the Sheik Abdullah had
already fallen on his knees and In a seem
ing rapture was reciting the 109th aud
10TH chapters of the Koran
The MusSulman, treasured, retired.
The Damascus caravan arrived at Me-
dina a few days later, and thousands of
pilgrims, cameIs, horses, soldiers and
nondescripts filled the holy city and crowi
ed the holy places. The English adven-
turer mixed freely among the new party
sustaining perfectly his character as
Abdullah, and joined them in their var
ious ceremonies. Their devotions con-
Guided at Medina, the united caravans
took up their weary march to MEGA, an
even more dangerous journey than from
Yambu to Medina. When the holy CITY
at last came into view the Sheik Abduila
could scarce repress his feelings of triumph.
His were almost tho first christian ewes to
gaze upon the white city of the desert
since the days of the prophet of Islam.
His motive in making the pilgrimage was
one of curiosity merely. 1t WAS Ger
tainly not the motive which prompt d him
to visit the giant fragments of boar anti
guilty in Egypt for the remains OF harbarie
gorgeousness in India He penetrated the
most sacred AMI hallowed chambers and
sanctuaries of Mecca by contriving to imi-
tate exactly the actions of his fellow pill
grims and not once during the sojourn
at Mecca was suspicious excited.
On the return journey the caravan was
again attacked by the band of robbers
upon whom Burton had practiced the de,
caption.
They;had repente1 the momentary enthusi-
asm which had led them to accept baubp
in full rpquital for their risk In making the
first attack. and now their fury knew no
bounds They slaughtered right and left
and many lives were sacrificed before the
caravan could retreat Burton only saved
himself by having one of his servants tie
him in a bag and suspend him from the
back of one of the camels, when 1t was i'm
possible to distinguish him from the rest of
| the ANNALS pack The robbers were then
tod that the sheik who gave them the
pearl bad died at Mecca.
When the thinned and weary caravan at
| last trod the streets of Cairo AID SheIk Alb
dull ali, bei.-g no longer obliged to keep up
the deception and being annoyed at one OF
the pranks of his mules. burst into vol4y
| 81 4,cb
An old dragoman, who knew English. was
riding beside him. The effect wa. electri-
cal. inside of FIVE minutes the air was fill
ed with cries and shouts
by the name of Allah, would have cut
the infdel dog to pieces had known it!
Did ne not throw dirt on the tomb of the
prophet, with whom be the piece of God
forever? Allah preserve me! Did he hot
look with unsanctifpd eyes on the most
reverend Kaaba? May our Lord and pro-
phet remember him in the judg nent.