Badi'a-y-Lablich

Badi'a-y-Lablich, DOMINGO, an enterprising traveller, born at Barcelona in 1766. Early smitten with the love of travel and adventure, in 1801 he crossed to Africa, disguised as a Mussulman, under the name Ali-Bei. From his youth he had been a devoted student of Arabic, and his knowledge of the manners and customs of the people was so intimate that he could escape detection, while to make his conformity complete, he had even circumcised himself. His tact and talents gained for him such esteem that he was invited to the court of the emperor of Morocco. After a two years' residence in Morocco, he set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and travelled through Barbary, Greece, Egypt, and Syria, meeting everywhere a kind reception. At the holy city of the Moslems he took his part duly in all the solemn rites, and has the distinction of being the first Christian that had visited it since the institution of Islam. In 1807 he returned to Spain, attached himself to King Joseph, and was appointed in 1812 Prefect of Cordova; but on the fall of Napoleon's power two years later, he was compelled to leave the country. He went to Paris, where in 1814 he published an account of his travels under the title Voyage d'Ali-Bei en Afrique et en Asie. His work was translated into most of the European languages. Four years after the publication, he set off on another journey to the East, but died in Syria, 30th August 1818.