MEMOIR OP BURCKHARDT. 35 



where he had nobody to introduce him, Burckhardt 

 preferred accompanying his guides to the khan of 

 the muleteers, which was a large court-yard of a 

 triangular shape, one side being occupied with 

 stables, another was used by the muleteers for the 

 purposes of eating, sleeping, and praying, while the 

 third was distributed into small dark cells, which 

 served as magazines for the goods, places for work- 

 ing in, &c. In the middle of the area was a large 

 water-basin, which afforded drink to men and beasts 

 indiscriminately. 



The appearance of a stranger excited considerable 

 curiosity, and the little cell of which he took pos- 

 session was speedily beset with troublesome in- 

 quirers, who unanimously declared that the intruder 

 was a Frank, and had come to their country for 

 evil purposes. The muleteer interfered; but his 

 remonstrances were soon lost in the general cry of 

 Giaour! (infidel), raised by the otlier inmates of 

 the khan, and by the townspeople who had come 

 to visit their friends. All endeavours at explana- 

 tion were vain ; Burckhardt evidently saw that 

 their design was to make religion a pretext for ex- 

 torting money from him. His property fortunately 

 was mixed up with that of the consul, except a few 

 trifling articles of luggage and a pocket purse con- 

 taining the sum necessary for his daily expenses. 

 The Aga of Antakia sent a dragoman to investigate 

 the state of affairs, but his spirited conduct, and the 

 success with which he concealed his Frank origin, 

 prevented him from being made the victim of im- 



