Page 125 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

106 SHERM TO SINAI. [CH.

valley, abounding in olive and other fruit-
trees, and abundantly watered. The convent
is a rude edifice, entirely empty and unte­
nanted. Passing from thence along a glen
ffl
which yet more nearly contracts its limits, as
i it skirts the roots of Sinai, until in many

places it is nearly blocked up by the masses
y
detached from it, we, in about half an hour,
;
- arrived at the rock of Mareb, from whence
water issued when smote by Moses. The

fissures corresponding to the number of the
tribes are. as Burckhardt suggests, the work
of art. Moreover, the Israelites could never
have murmured for water in this valley, since
it abounds in every part. From hence, on
our route to the convent, we were shown a
rude seat, formed by a natural recess in the
m rock, where Moses is said to have seated him­
self; and also a circular projection which the
Bedowins call his kettle. This they have
attempted to break, under an impression that
it contains treasures.

After spending several very pleasant days
at the convent, and partaking freely of the
hospitality of its inmates, we returned to the
ship.