Episodes

  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VIII - From Cairo to Suez

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VIII - From Cairo to Suez
    Jun 20 2026
    In which the tumult aboard the cramped vessel gives way to uneasy truces amid the company of pilgrims and sojourners, while the voyage along the classic yet perilous coasts unfolds with vivid scenes of natural splendour, local superstition, and the patient endurance of heat and hardship. We find our party navigating both physical dangers of reefs and the prickly tempers of their fellow wayfarers, punctuated by moments of respite at ancient wells and bustling coffee-houses, all set against a backdrop of desert legends and the patient rhythm of the Red Sea.
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    50 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VII - Preparations to Quit Cairo

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VII - Preparations to Quit Cairo
    Jun 20 2026
    In which the author recounts his arrival at Suez, the recovery of lost effects through a turbid encounter with the local governor, and the gathering of a motley company of pilgrims whose varied natures and scanty funds provide both companionship and occasional discord. Thereafter, the narrative wends its way to the crowded, disorderly pilgrim ship, where the coarse manners of the Maghrabi passengers and the clamorous struggle for space promise trials aplenty upon the voyage ahead.
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    48 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VI - The Mosque

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter VI - The Mosque
    Jun 19 2026
    In which the author prepares carefully for his desert pilgrimage, navigating the intricate social and bureaucratic customs of Cairo with a judicious mix of patience and cunning, and makes acquaintance with an Albanian officer whose tempestuous character leads to a memorable but reputation-testing episode. Thereafter, mounted upon dromedaries and attended by Bedouin guides, he embarks upon the arduous journey to Suez, where the austere and stirring desert landscape awakens reflections on the tribes, the rawness of nature, and the noble resilience of the wandering Arab.
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    59 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter V - The Ramazan

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter V - The Ramazan
    Jun 19 2026
    In which the author offers a reflective and detailed examination of the traditional Islamic educational system in Egypt, highlighting the arduous studies and limited prospects of theological students alongside the prevalent social and political attitudes of the Cairene populace. He further depicts the vibrant and sometimes turbulent scenes surrounding the Id festival, interspersed with personal encounters and observations on local customs, law enforcement, and the complex interplay of European influence within the city.
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    25 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter IV - Life in the Wakalah, part 2

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter IV - Life in the Wakalah, part 2
    Jun 18 2026
    In which the author provides a lively and richly detailed portrayal of the bustling nocturnal life and diverse voices that animate the Moslem quarter of Cairo, from the clamour of street vendors and beggars to the solemnity of the call to prayer and the quietude beyond the city walls. This is followed by a learned and reflective discourse on the architecture and spiritual symbolism of the Mosques, particularly those of Cairo, revealing both their historical origins and artistic evolutions through the ages.
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    36 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter IV - Life in the Wakalah, part 1

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter IV - Life in the Wakalah, part 1
    Jun 18 2026
    In which the art of Eastern medicine is laid bare with all its curious ceremonies, bargaining, and the delicate balance between empirical skill and the patient's imagination, while the author acquires a servant and a teacher amid the lively and peculiar social customs of Cairo. The narrative then shifts to the somber and sometimes irritable observance of the Ramazan, depicting its influence on the temper and daily life of the city’s inhabitants, seasoned with vivid descriptions of devotional practice and nocturnal festivity.
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    35 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter III - The Nile Steamboat - The Little Asthmatic

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter III - The Nile Steamboat - The Little Asthmatic
    Jun 17 2026
    In which we are introduced to the bustling and somewhat squalid life of the Wakalah in Cairo, where the mingling of merchants, pilgrims, and the colourful tapestry of human character unfold amidst a backdrop of harsh living conditions and curious customs. The narrative then turns to the acquaintance of Haji Wali, a shrewd and honest merchant embroiled in a vexatious legal dispute complicated by British consular politics, through whose experience the author learns much about Eastern peculiarity, trust, and the artifice that shadows the pursuit of justice.
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    20 mins
  • Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter II - I leave Alexandria

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah Chapter II - I leave Alexandria
    Jun 17 2026
    In which the weary journey upon the Nile steamboat reveals a landscape as familiar as it is uninspiring, peopled by an eclectic assembly of travellers whose manners and dispositions provide a curious glimpse into Eastern society and its many quirks. The author muses on the nature of hospitality, the perplexities of Indian attitudes towards the English, and the clash of cultures that lends a peculiar coloration to his sojourn in Cairo.
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    22 mins