The British Empire at its height governed more than half the world?s Muslims?some scholars have called it ?the greatest Mohammedan power in the world?. It was crucial, therefore, for the Empire to present itself to Muslims as a friend and protector, and in this, few tasks were more important than engagement with the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Every year, tens of thousands of Muslims set out for Mecca from imperial territories throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Men and women representing all economic classes and scores of ethnic and linguistic groups made extraordinary journeys across waterways, deserts, and savannahs, creating huge challenges for officials charged with the administration of these pilgrims.