Page 73 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

54 TOK TO SINAI. [cil.

from our camels. The passes generally are far
less steep and rugged on the western, than on
the eastern side of the peninsula. At 7*30
we reached the summit, and obtained an ex­
tensive, but dreary view of the surrounding
country; narrow ridges of bare and bleak
rocks extend in every direction; veins of a
dark colour traverse them diagonally, and
§
sometimes horizontally, adding much to their

striking appearance ; then, descending about
seven hundred feet, we entered Wadi S’laf,
which has a broad, sandy bed, producing,
amidst other odoriferous herbs, many clusters
of wild thyme. At 10*30, we halted near a
copious fountain of pure water, called Sahara,
and after enjoying our siesta, at 2*20, we left,
and ascended another pass, paved in many
places, and with few steep acclivities. From

the summit of this we crossed a large plain,
terminating in a broad and extensive valley;
m and at 6*30 arrived at the convent. It has
been objected to the identification of Jebel
Musa with Mount Sinai, that the narrow
valleys and ravines contiguous to it could
not have contained the immense multitude of
the Israelites. In this valley, however, there

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