JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 988, 7 March 1910, Page 4

JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE.

The latest enterprisa of "The Times" is messages from the holy 1 places in Arabia by a correspondent in the train of the Khedive of Egypt, i who recently made the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. We are not told who the correspondent is. It would be quite in keeping with the traditions of journalism for a white man to take the tremendous risk of disguising himself as a Mohammedan and travelling in the Khedive's retinue, but the chances are that the correspondent is a native. The road to the holy cities 'is strictly barred to infidels, and few have been the white men who have penetrated to the most sacred shrines of the Moslem faith. The very suspicion of being a Christian is enough to cost a man his life. The famous Richard Burton made the pilgrimage to Mec- < ca and Medina, disguised as an Arab. Scores of times he brushed the sleeve of death, and it was only his wonder • ful knowledge of the JWast and his ability to quota whole chapters of the Koran, that saved him from detection. A Scotchman named Keith was captured near Mecca and forcibly converted to Islamism, but he contrived to carry a Bible about with him, and eventually escaped, after dreadful sufferings. John Keane, son of a Calcutta minister, and a French- lgerian named Courtellement, are also recorded as successful pilgrims. Courteilenient actually succeeded in taking photographs of the pilgrims and religious cere monies. He managed to conceal his camera under an orthodox prayingcarpet, which he carried upon his shoulder. Many other white men \ have started for Mecca, and nothing 1 t,as ever been heard of them again, ' save perhaps a desert rumour of an ' unbeliever having been put to death , in tbe interior. It is ceitaialy curi- J

ous to see a telegram in "The Times" headed Medina, and to read a description written on the spot of the ceremonies at the Prophet's tomb.