text_original: After a journey of twenty hours across the Desert, we passed the barriers which mark the outermost limit of the sacred city, and, ascending some giant steps, pitched 538 A PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA our tents on a plain, or rather plateau, surrounded by barren rock, some of which, distant but a few yards, mask from view the birthplace of the Prophet.
text_transcription: AFTER A JOURNEY OF TWENTY HOURS ACROSS THE DESERT WE PASSED THE BARRIERS WHICH MARK THE OUTERMOST LIMIT OF THE SACRED CITY AND ASCENDING SOME GIANT STEPS PITCHED OUR TENTS ON A PLAIN OR RATHER PLATEAU SURROUNDED BY BARREN ROCK SOME OF WHICH DISTANT BUT A FEW YARDS MASK FROM VIEW THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE PROPHET
phonemes: ˈæftɚɹ ɐ dʒˈɜːni ʌv twˈɛnti ˈaʊɚz əkɹˌɑːs ðə dˈɛzɚt, wiː pˈæst ðə bˈæɹɪɹz wˌɪtʃ mˈɑːɹk ðɪ ˈaʊɾɚmˌoʊst lˈɪmɪt ʌvðə sˈeɪkɹɪd sˈɪɾi, ænd, ɐsˈɛndɪŋ sˌʌm dʒˈaɪənt stˈɛps, pˈɪtʃt fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi ˈeɪt ɐ pˈɪlɡɹɪmɪdʒ tuː mˈɛkə ˌaʊɚ tˈɛnts ˌɔn ɐ plˈeɪn, ɔːɹ ɹˈæðɚ plætˈoʊ, sɚɹˈaʊndᵻd baɪ bˈæɹən ɹˈɑːk, sˌʌm ʌvwˈɪtʃ, dˈɪstənt bˌʌt ɐ fjˈuː jˈɑːɹdz, mˈæsk fɹʌm vjˈuː ðə bˈɜːθpleɪs ʌvðə pɹˈɑːfɪt.