Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Brooks, Lewis (1877-02-06)

Jeddah (Arabia) Feb. 6 '77 Mr Lewis Brooks. Rochester N.Y. Dear Sir,

    I write you from this chief city of Arabia

and chief port of the Red Sea. The importance lies in its being the nearest sea-board to Mecca, which is only 40 miles distant in the interior. </s I came here last > Bedouins and camels are all around me, with thousands of Pilgrims returning to all parts of the Mohamdan world (Morroco on West to China on East) from that visit to Mecca which at once meets their religions aspirations, and makes them social men ^at home^ for the balance of their lives </s I came > The town is not a very safe one for Christians by reason of the great fanaticism of the people , </s of Arabia > generated and cherished doubtless by the religious zeal of the pilgrim Community. Some years ago they rose suddenly and massacred the English & French consuls and 27 other Europeans ^then^ resident here. Since then the place has a bad name and few foreigners live here or even come as far from their ships when they touch in the harbor. There is of Course no hotel in the city, - and I am stopping with the English Consul. I came here last week from Suez, and next week I take the Egyptian steamer across the sea to