, 1863-09-05
The Rock SfuItteu in Horeb.

1nE ROCK S(01K2GA Ill KAU4E
Nr: Hurter, Of the Syria mission, sending to
the Missionary House a coa5 Of the folio wing
letter written by him to one Of the profession
at AndoyeT, expresses much confidence that
"tLls is the identical rock from whence flo Fed
the stream which quenched the thirst Of the
Thousands Of Israel ~ and says "future tray:
elers will confirm this opinion ~,
BEIRUT, Syria, May g, 1897; 1885,
Hayfrg recently returned from q v1s4tito
Mount Sinai, 7 thought you. would be interes-
ted in the discovery ot aspiring Of Water under
the east aide Of Mount Horeb, which cannot
learn has been noticed by any traveller who
has written on Sinai, but which Is 30 striking
that had 1t been seen, it would certainly hare
been mentioned. In coming towards Mount
Horeb we took the road followed By Dr. Rob
fnson, BY Wady er-Rahah. On page 80 OF the
the left Of Horeb, deep and narrow valley
runs up southeast, between lofty walls Of
rock, as II in continuation OF the southeast
corner Of the plain. In this valley, at the dis
tance Of neatly mile from the plain. stands
the convent. u On the east side Of this valley,
and at its entrance, is small hill separated
from the mountain By road about one hun.
dred feet across, which travellers follow in
going to the convent from Wady es-Sheikh,
while those who 60 to the convent by Wady
er-Rahah pass on the west side OF the hill.
On the south side Of this hill Is the camping
ground, and in getting to 1t We made short
circuit OF tive minutes ride to avoid precl-
ground, ne requested our cameleers, before
dispensing to their. homes, to fill our barrels
with water. They said they would take two
Of them to spring where there was resar-
yoir, into which they would place them. They
pointed out to us the direction, on the west
side Of the valley, under Horeb, and VIC per-
ceiyed few trees at that place. Towards
evening told my Pa5y that 9 wopld atgs 60 and and
rcls in the pool. The direction Of the spring
vas straight across the valley from the camp
iug~ground. After leaving the tents, in about
two minutes I ascended the ground where
we made the circuit, then passed down .
slight dee1ivity, after which the ground grad.
nally rose until reached The spring, In about
bonlters Of sinaite granite. Here vas aar.
prised to find a fine spring ofpure water Issu.
Ing from rent in tic rock. The rent was in
an ob}lque direction, the highest part of 1t on
the left, and slopfng down toward the right.
The lowest part Of the 6ssure was ~ hig6 IS
rounding rock is the solid red granite of Slnal,
smooth on the, face md unbroken BY fissure
Or Eeam. The f1ssure Is about SIX feet long,
four inches wide, five inches deep at the bot
tom and twelve ut the top, and runs down
into the rock parallel with the perpendicular
side Of the mountain, The: water seems to
issue about two feet above the bottom of the
rent, flowing over the lower part Of it In a
stream about the thickness Of mans finger.
The reservoir is about twelve feet long BY
five in width, and four feet deep, and ;was
nearly full when I reached the place. When
full, the water is let of, to irrIgate some
twenty or more fruit trees. As mas the first
{as far a. am aware) to observe this singular
aren't" in the "Rocls Of Horeb," and am
unable to find any allusion to it In the books
OF Burckhardt, Robinson, Stanley, or other
travellers ] have thought it my duty to in
form the public Of the Met, In order that
future travellers may not fail to eec 1t. Could
We suppose that Moses hsd . rod about SIX
feet long, and that, raising the lower end Of
It as high as his head, struck it obliquely
against the granite cliff, aud that wedgcd
s6nped cavity was thus mtraculously formed,
the rent would meet the conditions exactly.
L won1d simply state that I made the above
discovery on the 26th OF February.