My Journey To Medinah: Describing A Pilgrimage To Medinah Performed By The Author Disguised As A Mahommedan Keane, John F. Turkey, The Caucasus And Middle East

First edition. Octavo volume (6 x 8 ¾ inches). Complete with half title, [viii]+212 pages. Three quarter period calf over marbled boards. Spine in six compartments with red and wine coloured calf title labels and elaborately decorated in gilt. Some rubbing to the binding. Internally generally fresh and clean. Very good antiquarian condition overall. Keane (1854-1937) left home early. As a sailor, he visited the arctic, the South seas, China, India, the West Indies, and Egypt. In 1877, still only 23, he became one of the first Europeans to visit the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Arabia. Under the assumed name of Haj Mohammed Khan, Keane join the party of an Indian Emir travelling from Jeddah to make the Hajj pilgrimage. In Mecca, Keane supposedly met a British lady living in the city - although who she may have been remains a mystery. Keane claimed publicly to have converted to Islam, engaged in Muslim prayer and ritual, and there is speculation that his conversion was sincere. Still, his limited Arabic aroused suspicion and he left Mecca for Medinah, spending 10 days in the city before returning to London.