Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-12-22
MOUNT SINAI.

The plain of Ell Rahah, which has be-
come an object of much interest 10 travel
lers in consequence Of its connexion will,
the Biblical history, is two miles and hall
in length by an average of .hree-fnurlhs oil
a mile in breadth :; uneven in some places
bu. generally level having a little herbsge
and some shrubs, upon which camels and
goats can feed; and suitable, by means OF
its hard surface Of clean gravel, for the en-.
campment of people dwelling in ,en,s.-
| II is bounded at It's southeastern extremity
by Mount Sinai, where j. is approached and
entered by the wide and level Wady, which
bears the name Of Esch Shekh. The Isra-
elites, in their memorable march through
the wilderness, having met and defeated on
their way the warlike Amelekites, appear
to have entered the plain of Ell Rahsh ,hro'
this Wady filling no. anly the whole plain
bu, some of the neighboring valley, in from,
Of the dark and lofty mountain, which was
soon 10 be robed with the lightnngs, and
10 be shaken with the voice Of God.
|. was into this plain ,ha. we had now
descended from the rocky bosom of Nick
eb Hawy. Mount Sinai was before u.s.
With such remembrances, and in sight of
such localities, the mind would no, be true
TO itself if it did not turn from the outward
to the inward. On the side Of The plain q
flock Of goats were feeding. Here aud there
a camel plucked the thistle that grew in the
crevices of the cliffs. Bu, the eye and the
heart seemed to be closed 10 outward nature.
Silent we rode over the plain, and in sigh,
Of this sacred mountain, listening to the Sc
cret aspirations of our immortal natures :;
thoughtful as if its fires were ye. burning,
and its mighty voices were even now SCUM
ding in our ears. Such moment, striking
deep by Its suggestions and sympa.hies in
to mans moral and immortal nature, is an
era in his life. If he is a Christian, he
knows tina, the announcements made from
tha, mountain, and in presence of the vast
multitude assembled upon the plain which
he is traversing, have connexions with his
own destiny, which his own limited mind
cannot penetrate, and which are deep as the
bosom of the Infinite.
1t was at the close Of the day when our
cameIs came under that portion of Sinai
which bounds the southeastern extremity
of The plain. This part of Sinai, lifting it,
self perpendicularIy above the plain, con-
sIliu.ts uistlnct and Iofy elevation. The
Arabs, in allusion TO few willow-trees
which grow near it, have given i. The name
Of The peak Of Sussafeh. The last rays OF
the sun glilered on its rocks summits.-
Advancing little further, we deserted at .
small distance, an opening in the mounssins.
which gave signs of the residence Of men
That night We did not sleep in tents. The
piety Of primitive ages, holding in venera-
ton the locality which God had honoured,
had erected a habi!stion. Entering the mar
row valley between the eastern base of Sinai
and the mountain E-Dayr, which bears the
name Of the valley of Shu-Eib, we made our
way TO the ancient convent of ST. Ca.harine
lss solid walls reminded US Of distant ages
when man had less confidence in his fel.
low-man. The monks opened its doors;
and wearied by tolls Of the body, and hard
y less by memories and emotions of the
mind, we found place Of res..-Prof. Up
ham.