Borden 's intention was to become a missionary to Uyghur Muslims in northwestern China , but he decided first to study Islam and Arabic in Cairo , boarding with a Syrian family there .
He would hear Arabic spoken as much as possible .
Borden 's intention was to become a missionary to Uyghur Muslims in northwestern China , but he decided first to study Islam and Arabic in Cairo , boarding with a Syrian family there so that he would hear Arabic spoken as much as possible .