52 Journal of Mr, Burckhardt's 



nor Giovanni Bosari, the physician of the Pasha, who was also 

 here at this moment, it being his chief miUtary depot. The re- 

 ception he met with from this Greek was such as all the Le- 

 vantines, but particularly those of his own nation, know so well 

 how to bestow, even on persons whom they hate or despise, that 

 is, highly flattering and complimentary, full of the most friend- 

 ly professions, and often-repeated assurances of welcome to the 

 participation of every thing his house could afford him. At the 

 evening divan, where the physician attended as an officer of the 

 court, the Pasha was made acquainted with Ibrahim's arrival at 

 Taif ; and having known him in Egypt, previous to the under- 

 taking of his Nubian expedition, he expressed a strong desire 

 to see him. On learning that he had come from Mecca, which 

 city he had entered as a pilgrim of the Moslem faith, his sur- 

 prise was extreme, as he could not prevail on himself to be- 

 lieve that he had been regularly initiated into Mahommedan- 

 ism. The birth of this surprise was naturally accompanied 

 by an increase of curiosity, and he therefore despatched his 

 physician immediately to bring him to the divan, premising, 

 however, that he could only receive him as an Englishman and 

 a Christian. On those conditions Ibrahim refused to go, return- 

 ing by the messenger at the same time his most respectful com- 

 pliments to his Highness, and assuring him of liis readiness to 

 attend his commands, but as a true and faithful mussulman 

 only. One of the chief of the Ulema, and a Mollah, being pre- 

 sent, they ventured to express their opinions that it was proper for 

 him to be received in that character, if he was indeed a true be- 

 liever, and they were firmly persuaded that no other could ever 

 enter Mecca. The Pasha yielding, therefore, to superior theo- 

 logical knowledge, revoked the conditions of his visit, and Ibra- 

 him was admitted as one of the faithful, to give the " Salaam 

 Alaikum," and receive the " Alaikum Salaam" in return. He 

 remained with them until a late hour, examined on the one hand 

 by the Pasha on the political affairs of Europe, and on the other 

 by the Mollah on the precepts and doctrines of the Koran, with 

 all the injunctions of the book, and traditions relative to the 

 washings, prayers, and customs necessary to be observed by a 



