Travels In Arabia | Page 4

among whom he lived in the character of a
Muselman.
Some short notices, written on a detached leaf, but evidently intended
by the author as an introduction to his Journal, are given accordingly in
the next page: for, that the Arabian Travels should appear under such a
form as Burckhardt himself probably wished them to assume, has been
throughout a favourite object of the editor,
WILLIAM OUSELY.
London, January, 1829.
[p.xiii] THE AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION.
IN the pages of this Journal I have frequently quoted some Arabian
historians, whose works are in my possession. It is now to me a subject
of regret that those manuscripts were not with me in the Hedjaz. The
two first I purchased at Cairo, after my return from Arabia.
These works are--l. The History of Mekka, entitled Akhbar Mekka, a
thick quarto volume, by Aby el Wolyd el Azraky, who flourished in the
year of the Hedjra 223, and has traced the annals of his native city
down to that period. This work is particularly interesting on account of
its topographical notices, and the author’s intimate acquaintance with
the state of Arabia before Islám or Mohammedanism. The manuscript
appears, from the hand-writing, to be six, or perhaps seven hundred
years old.
2. The History of Mekka, entitled Akd e’ themyn, in three folio
volumes, by Taky ed' dyn el Fasy, who was himself Kadhy of Mekka.
This history comes down to the year of the Hedjra 829, and is
comprised [p.xiv] in the first volume; the other two volumes containing
biographical anecdotes of distinguished natives of Mekka.
3. The History of the Mosque of Mekka, with which the history of the
town is interwoven, called El Aalam hy aalam beled Allah el haram, in
one volume quarto. The author was Kottob ed’ dyn el Mekky, who held
high offices at Mekka, and brings the history down to the year 990 of

the Hedjra.
4. The History of the Hedjaz, and more particularly of Mekka, by
Asamy. Of this chronicle I possess only the second volume, a large
folio manuscript, comprising historical records from the time of the
Beni Omeya, to the year (of the Hedjra) 1097. I have not been able to
ascertain the title of this work, which abounds with curious and
valuable information. The author, Asamy, was a native of Mekka.
5. The History of the Temple and Town of Medina. This work is
entitled Khelaset el Wafa, its author was Nour ed’ dyn Aly Ibn Ahmed
e’ Samhoudy, [To this writer Burckhardt refers in p. 323, by the letters
(V.S.) “Vide Sumhoudy.”] and it is comprised in one folio volume,
bringing the history down to the year 911 of the Hedjra.
[p.xv] CONTENTS.
Arrival at Djidda Route from Djidda to Tayf Residence at Tayf Journey
to Mekka Arrival at Mekka Description of Mekka Quarters of Mekka
Description of the Beitullah (or “House of God”), the great Mosque at
Mekka Some Historical Notices concerning the Kaaba and the Temple
of Mekka Description of several other holy places visited by pilgrims at
Mekka and in its neighbourhood Remarks on the inhabitants of Mekka
and Djidda Government of Mekka Climate and diseases of Mekka and
Djidda The Hadj or Pilgrimage Journey from Mekka to Medina Medina
Description of Medina Account of some places of Zyara, or objects of
pious visitation, in the neighbourhood of Medina On the Inhabitants of
Medina On the Government of Medina Climate and Diseases of
Medina Journey from Medina to Yembo Yembo From Yembo to Cairo
Appendix, (comprising ten articles)
[p.xvi] CORRIGENDAS
Page 12 for Gonfady read Gonfade. 29 Badingam Badinjan. 95 Metzem
Meltezem. 109 Hareh Haret. 156 Achmed Ahhmed. 183 Moktar
Mokhtar. 232 Yahyn Yahya. 446 Matsa Matfa. 462 Benezes Aenezes.
The name of Kayd Beg, which frequently occurs, is sometimes spelt in
the Ms. Kait Beg, and once erroneously Kail Beg. On reference to
Burckhardt’s Nubian Travels, it appears that he entered Djidda on the
18th of July, and not on the 15th, as printed in the first page of this
volume through a mistake of the figure 8 for 5; the ink with which he
wrote having in many parts of his Journal faded considerably, and
become of a pale reddish colour. As far, also, as the faded ink in some

places of the Ms. allows the editor (and others who have seen it) to
judge, Mekkawy is used to express a person of Mekka: in many pages
of the Ms. Mekkan is distinctly written, but the Arabic derivative
Mekky occurs only in the Author’s Introduction (p. xiv.) Local
derivatives similar to Mekkawy occur in the various parts of
Burckhardt’s works: the present volume, and his Syrian and Nubian
Travels, exhibit Djiddawy, Yembawy, Kennawy, Dongolawy, Bornawy,
Bedjawy, &c. from Djidda, Yembo, Kenne, Dongola, Bornou, Bedja.
&c.
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