Burckhardt

Burckhardt, John Ludwig, traveller, was born in 1784 near Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1806, after studying at Leipsic and Gottingen, he came to London with an introduction to Sir Joseph Banks, and undertook to explore the interior of Africa for the African Association. Inuring himself by practice to hunger, thirst and exposure, he set out in 1809 in the disguise of a Mussulman, and under the name of Sheikh Ibrahim Ibn Abdallah he journeyed through Syria, Lebanon, and the Hauran to Palmyra, and in 1812 through Palestine to Petra, crossing the desert to Petra. Among his most daring exploits, however, was his pilgrimage to Mecca, which is death to an unbeliever. Examined by a committee of Mohammedan judges, chosen by Mehemet Ali, he was pronounced to be an excellent Moslem, and setting forth, he performed all the rites of the pilgrimage with accuracy, dined with the chief judge of Mecca, and recited the Koran to him. In 1816 he ascended Mount Sinai. Returning to Cairo, he, was there seized by dysentery, and died October 15th, 1817. His travels were published posthumously, and are distinguished for their truthfulness.