How did Sir Richard Burton prepare for his journey to Mecca in 1853?

Sir Richard Burton’s preparation for his 1853 journey to Mecca was rooted in his extensive linguistic skills and prior experience with undercover intelligence work.

Having mastered Arabic and several other languages during his eight-year tenure in India, Burton had already developed the ability to operate in disguise. As a favored intelligence officer for Sir Charles James Napier, he had previously infiltrated bazaars in the Sindh region while disguised as a Muslim merchant to gather reports.1

Following his return to England and a period spent in Boulogne, France, where he authored several ethnological studies, he spent time perfecting his long-cherished plans for the pilgrimage. To successfully enter the forbidden city, he adopted the persona of a Pathān, an Afghanistani Muslim, which allowed him to travel through Cairo, Suez, and Medina before reaching his destination.12