Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah

(Originally published by the notorious Leonard Smithers, friend and patron of Aubrey Beardsley and Oscar Wilde. Edited by Isabel Burton)The original text from Volumes 1 and 2 of this fascinating travelogue by the famous and erudite Victorian soldier, linguist and explorer, who travelled Arabia in disguise, often posing as a doctor; seventy years before Lawrence of Arabia. Filled with colorful characters: "kayf"or hashish-smoking policemen, fakirs, slaves, courtesans, strange ceremonies, sudden violent deaths, constant aphrodisiac and drug-taking.  It has lost none of its power over the years. With period illustrations, maps, selected footnotes and appendices; annotated with biographical notes. PDF version features mock parchment paper effect.