The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-14

were one night swept away by nOOd so sudden
that they had not even time to escape to the
mountains barely hundred yards off. These
great floods or 'seils" are of rare occurrence
but terrible in their effects when they do take
place Sudden and excessive rains, falling on
the naked rocks of this region which possess no
absorbing power and are utterly destitute of soil
pour with frightful rapdity down the hill-sides
and valleys, sweeping everything before them.
The sell" | speak of was almost unprecedented
in magnitude. Holland was encamped near here
Mt the time and had narrow escape. am
afraid we shall not have the good fortune to wit
ness one this year, rs the season for heavy rains
is now pretty well over.
Our camp here is pleasantly situated mt the
junction of Wady Allyat and Wady Feiran, and
close to the oasis of Feiran, which terminates
just at this point. You may imagine the plea
sure with which, after having been so long ac-
customed to none but the sickly green of desert
herbs and shrubs, we welcomed the sight of u
perfect forest of date, palm, and tamarisk.
acacia, and sidr trees, extending for some two
miles down the valley, with cool, clear stream
ripping cheerily under its shade. This oasis,
like all other green spots in the Sinai Mountains,
owes its existence to IA contraction of the Wady,
and consequent arrest of the usual rapid and
unimpeded drainage.
,ebel Serbal is about four miles from the
camp. In massive ruggedness and in bOldness
of feature and outline this mountain unques-
tionably presents an aspect unequalled by any
other in the peninsula; and, though not abso-
lutely the highest it has greater command
so far seen; unfortunately, there is hardly
single point in the valleys near its base (on
this side at all events) which affords com
prehensve view of the mountain. 1t is only
by ascending some of the neighboring
hills that the whole range of its magnificent
peaks can be seen mt once; and there is no plain
anywhere in the vicinity suitable to the assem-
bling OF large concourse of people in sight of
any one portion. Two unimportant valleys,
Wady Aleyat and Wady Ajeleh each from three
to four miles i'll length, rise from Feiran to the
actual base of Serbal, and furnish the toughest
examples we have yet experienced of the very
rough walking in the peninsula. Each--and
especially Wady Ajeleh, the western and mar
rover valley-is u wilderness of boulders and
torrent-beds, and high banks of alluvial deposit,
bearing the marks of many sell From
points in these two valleys, and from few spots
also in Wady Feiran, imperfect views of Serbal
are to be had; but from Wady Ajeleh the high
est peak is never seen. The space between the
two, which | think has been described
plain, is n chaos OF rugged mountains, rising to
rs many as $500 feet above Feiran, and concern
ing which our boots and knees could tell a very
different tale.
The difficulty of ascending Serbal has been
much Oyerstated. We went up by a hunters
track, longer though less PERCEPTIONS than that
by the Wady Abu Hamed, usually taken by tra-
vellers; but in descending we followed the latter
ravine. There was nothing appalling in either
case-certainly nothing to approach in difficulty
the climb to the highest peak of the Ras Sufsa-
feh. The view from the summit, though not SO
extensive, is perhaps more pleasing and varied
than that from Jebel Katarina, embracing, in ad-
dition to the usual grouping of desert, mountain,
and valley, nearer view of the sea, the great
plain of Ell Kaa, bathed in heat, stretched from
the coast to within few miles of the back of
Serbal, and the green oasis of Feiran winding
eastward through the hills.
The few showers which have fallen during our
stay have already produced marked effect
upon the vegetation Trees and shrubs are now
budding, and look fresher and greener than
before; and in valleys usually parched and arid
blades of grass are springng up between boul-
ders, and little ferns and creepers coming to
life in their shade.
On Thursday, the 4th, we commence a wan
dering ife intending to devote the whole of our
three remaining months to the general survey
and examination of the western part of the
peninsula. III. s. PALMER.
We may add to the information contained in
Mr.. Palmer's notes, that he describes himself as
having made series of copies of the famous
rock-inscriptions, and expresses confident
belief that he has found key to the language
and meaning. We hope this very good news
may prove to be true.