XI 
la description du temple de la Mecque, et celle du magnifique edifice religieux, 
erige dans Jerusalem, sur les ruines du Temple de Salomon. II regne dans ces 
Memoires un interet majeur, que son genie seul pouvait imprimer a tout ce 
qui sort de sa plume. 
Recevez, Messieurs, 1'assurance de ma consideration distinguee. 
DE L'ISLE DE SAILES, 
Membre de l'Institut Royal de France, 
Academie des Belles Lettres, 
a Paris, Rue de Sevres, 
Hotel de Lorges, No. 95." 
The publishers will not presume to anticipate the judgment of the public on 
the merits of the travels themselves. They will be found to possess one peculi- 
arity that increases their interest. The author travelled as a complete Mahome- 
tan, and was every where received and treated as such. By this means he was 
enabled to identify himself with the habits and feelings of the countries he visit, 
ed, and from this circumstance his narrative will be found to give one of the 
most faithful and lively pictures of the Mussulman manners, state of society 
and ideas, that has been hitherto laid before the public. 
In his visit to the isle of Cyprus he surveyed some curious remains of anti- 
quity that have been usually overlooked. Having been admitted in his cha« 
racter of a Mahometan prince to sweep the interior of the Caaba at Mecca, the 
most sacred office that a Mussulman can perform, and to visit it repeatedly, he 
