The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-06-02
From tie London .Neqv Monthly Magazine.
MOUNT SINAI
(CoNcLUDED.)

loose stones, which gave way under their
feet. The wind was extremely cold the
Arabs hands were quite cramped by It.
With great pleasure we reached we'll OF
water deadly cold, beneath perpendicu-
lar precipice, where it was never visited by
the SUM- After resting awhile, we again as
cended, always amidst rocks OF vast heights,
of the most grand and imposing forms, till
we reached the summit, which was a very
small peak, not above fifty feet in crcumter-
cnce; the wind here was so keen and sub
tile, that it seemed to pierce through us. ST.
Catharine, supposed by some to be Mount
IIoreb, is the highest mountain i'll all thc re-
gion round; but from its summit, as lar as
the eye could reach, nothing was to be seen
on every side but ranges of naked mountains
succeeding each other like waves of the sea.
Between these rocky chains there arc in
general only ravincs or narrow valleS. We
at last began to descend, and with great
pleasure, reached the we'll again, and having
climbed to the ledge OF rocks beneath which
it stood, we kndled fire and boiled some
coffee, which we drank like nectar; the cold
was quickly banised from our frames, and
we got into excellent spirits. Were my
fancy stored with eastern imagery, should
exhaust it all in praise of this most excel
lent beverage, which is the real amulet and
never failing recourse amidst fatigues and all
sorts of hardships and privations We now
descended to the desolatc monastery III the
glen, and taking an Arab pipe, solaced our
selves in the abodes of the fathers, till the
sultry heat was passed and then proceeded
for about two hours till we came to the cell
ebrated rock of Merbah. 1t still bears
striking evidence ofthe mracle about t,andi is
quite isolated in the midst narrow OF valley,
which is here about wohundred yards Broad.
There are four or five assures oi,- above
the other, on the face of the rock, each Of
them about foot and a half long, and few
inches deep. What is remarkable, they run
along the breadth of the rock, and are not
rent downward they are more than q foot
asunder, and there is q channcl worn be-
tween them by the gushing Of the water.
The Arabs still reverence this rocN ana StuH
shrubs into the holes, that when any ct their
camels are sick, they may eat Of 1t and recov-
or. Two of the holes at this time we're fiji
led with reed for this purpose, and they be
lieve it to be endowed with a peculiar vhtuc.
The rock is of beautiful granite, and is a-
bout fve yards long, five in height, aid Foar
wards wide. This narrow valley soon open
ed into a plain, capable of containing large
number of people, where they probably
stood, as well as around the rock, and in the
valley, to receive the water that poured
down. 1t is difficult to take that passage i'll
Scripture literally, which says that the wa
ter from the rock followed them in til :ir
jonineyings, when it is considered that from
the nature of the country, their course was
afterwards over rocky and rugged places,
and traces of sand; to have carried that wa
ter over stony ascents, and long and desert
paths. which absorb all moisture, would
have been an infinitely greater miracle than
the bringing it at first out of the rocks or
reproducing it in different parts Of their jour
news. Perhaps the passage may be intend
ed to convey the latter meaning
The two servants had been left behind in
the convent, AS Michael had been taken i'll
Of fever and VIC were not aware that our
Arab guides were disposed 10 act 50 treach
erous part. We had left the spn. about an
hour; it was after sunset, and we were mol
very far from the convent, and were coaSrat-
dating ourselves ON being soon i'll our iuXuri-
Gus little cells, and enjoying good supper
after our fatigues, when We perceived some
camels and dsmounted Arabs standing at
small distance on the left they had waited
for us in this spot, and now called loudly to
US to stop We disregarded this, and walk
ed OH, when Shiek advanced and seized
NlT. L. VINO SHCOh nm Oll. young -lIiD,
being enraged at this drew his pistol, and
presenting it was about to fire, when anoth-
80 chief siczed his arm; and in moment We
found ourselves surrounded, and in the pow
er of these Bedouins, who were twelve in
number among whom were the Shieks; they
were all armed with matchbox guns and sa-
bres. Our effects and arms were in the CON
vent, and we had nothing with us worth
taking. They had arrived from their camp,
some days distant, to demand a contribution
of provisions from the monastery, which was
refused by the fathers, the demand being 50
large; and they declared they could not com
ply with it without permission from the su-
perior convent at Cairo. rhc Arabs beins
enraged, and aware of our being abroad, re-
solved to seize on and detain us, till ran
som was paid, or their demands complyct
with. In the confusion of the capture, an,
the noise of SO many speaking at once, 81
hardly knew what they would he at. it wa
vain to tell them we were lngleise, and a
peace with them; that we were friends t
the pacha of Egypt. They lighted tn
matches of their musquets, and marched to
wards the convent; and, on approaching til
convent wall, held a parley with two Of til
domestics on the top ofit, and then proceed
ed beneath the high window; and ben
much enraged. they were prepared for an
violence.-After calling loudly for som
time, one of the monks reluctantly appear
ed at the window, and held brct conver