'Personal Narrative of a pilgrimmage to Al-Madinah and Meccah. Vol. II' [‎361] (396/568)

Appendix V.—Pilgrimage of Joseph Pitts. 361
European Christian 1 part of the world." He travelled
through Italy, Germany, and Holland, where he received
many and great kindnesses. But his patriotism was
damped as he entered " England, his own native country,
and the civilised land must have made him for a time
regret having left Algier. The very first night he lay
ashore, he was " imprest into the kings service" (we
having at that time war with France); despite argu
ments and tears he spent some days in Colchester jail,
and finally he was put on board a smack to be carried to
the Dreadnought man-of-war. But happily for himself
he had written to Sir William Falkener, one of the
Smyrna or Turkey company in London ; that gentleman
used his interest to procure a protection from the Ad
miralty office, upon the receipt of which good news,
Joseph Pitts did " rejoice exceedingly and could not for
bear leaping upon the deck." He went to London,
thanked Sir William, and hurried down to Exeter, where
he ends his fifteen years' tale with a homely, heartful and
affecting description of his first meeting with his father.
His mother died about a year before his return.
7 he following passages are parts of the 7th and 8th
chapters of Pitts' little-known work.
"Next we came to Gidda, the nearest sea-port town
to Mecca, not quite one day's journey from it, 2 where
the ships are unloaded. Here we are met by Dilleels, 8
certain persons who came from Mecca on purpose to
instruct the Hagges, or pilgrims, in the ceremonies (most
1 The italics in the text are the author's. This is admirably char
acteristic of the man. Asiatic Christendom would not satisfy him.
He seems to hate the " damnable doctrines" of the " Papists," almost
as much as those of the Moslems.
2 He must have been accustomed to long days' journeys. Al-
Idrisi makes Jeddau forty miles from Meccah; I calculated about
forty-four.
3 Dalil, a guide, generally called at Meccah " Muttawwif."