New-York tribune., 1872-07-02
NEW PU RLIOATIONS.
PALMERs FOOT JOURNEYS IN THE DESERT
or SINAI

Emo Up. 49, Hapor& Brothers.
The author. of this w0Ik is Professor OF Arabic in
the University of c Aslbrdge, and his familiarity
with the language gaNs hi,n exceptional advantages
for obtaining exact iuturnatoR 10 his intercourse
with the natives of the Desert of sinai. lie eaccGn
panied the English Ordnance Survey Expsdih on in
Is6s69 and subsequently, made anOther toun on be-
half of the Palestine Exploration in lSG97o Soyotsng
eleven montbsso the journeys which were performed
entirely on foot and extended over greater portion
of the wilderness than ha been previously tx
plored. His special province in thu Expedton'Va as
the nvcst CATION of the nimeS and traditions OF the
country and esf the inscriptions which cover 1he
rocks in many parts of SiRli.
The object Of the survey to Identify the sites
mentioned in she Mosaic narrative. or M least to
bring back sdeh geographical and other date as
would afford a basis fer the Judgment Of Bbhoal
critics. Two mOuntains, Jebel Musa and JeDei
Serial have been respectively proposed IS the TINE
Sinai and of these it the first business to make
an accurate survey. This was no easy task. Inc
points for trigcnometrcab observations were ne0es-
sarily at great nights and ct wide distances apart
The country WAS rugged that to Get from one 20
another Of these stations was often hars dag
work involving a rough walk and toilsome cliInh.
There vas no wood to be procured for the erection
of poles or fagstafs. CaIrs had TO be constructed
on the various points, ano made Conspicuous by
white-washng. One or another of the officers could
freouentIy be seen scrambling up a precpitious
crag holding the whitewaSh pot in his mouth at
the imminent risk of spilliur its contents on the
ground aid losing entirely the labor of the day.
They would reach tSe top of peak i'll state OF ffo-
fuse perspTation but five minutes later would be so
!benumbed with cold that they could scarcely hold
pencil or turn the screws of an instrument The SINAI
mountaineer had an easier task than the Alpine
climber. To Se sure nc had to jol;OveTTough loose
bowlGers which was somewhat trying, especially IN
steep descent. he was Sbliged to hep from stone 10
stone like an animated cricket ball. until every
sinew was strained. and every joint seemed diso-
Gated: a piece OF rock woold and then bound
AWAY from under his feet while he came heavily
down on hs occiput with piece of sharp granite IN
the small of the back There were, however, few
dangers or difficulties, which bold dash bare
footed OF a hoist up with tent-rope, would not
overcome
The difIerentalttudeea Mt which they worked varied
from the sea-leyel to about eight thOusand feet
above il. In the lowlands, they had TO contend
against fierce heat and sitting simOoms at great
expense Of vital energy The constant changes OF
temperature would have been extremely trying. but
for the hard exercise clear air. and glorious scenery
which gave tone and vigor both TO body and mind
The native Arab guides, who were employed to
carry the heavier instruments, when observations
were to be made, looked upon the whole
affair with profound suspicion. So much writing
they thought, bOded good to the country
They got the idea that the measuring OF the PENN
sula was for the purpose of purchasing 1t for the
Christians, and ejectng the true believers from
their patrimony When they were told that there
was no object but TO establish the truth OF the his
tory Of "our Lord Moses and the Benz Israel" they
laughed IN their sleeves forming the meanest opinion
of the intellectual capacity of those who could think
IL reonired proof at all The chief guide had ac-
quired some experience with previous explorers; he
always lent willing hand TO whatever was done;
but at heart he evidently regarded the proceedings
with supreme contempt.
The Arabs of one locality are totally ignorant of
the nomenclature of their neighbors, nor can they
have the fantest conception of the motives which
induce any one to feel an interest in the subject
"The ingenious stupidity of the Bedawfn was often
very perplexng, the following instance will show
During the early part of my stay in Sinai sought
for every opportunity Of mastering such expressions
and idoms in the Towarah language differed from
those in ordinary use and not feeling certain as to
the particular fOra of the mterrOgative particle
when employed by them, inquired of an intelli-
gent Arab with whom Glanced 10 be walking. To
make the question as plain as possible, SAID sup
posing YOU were to meet man with an ibeX on his
shoulder how should you ask him when he shot 1t
Il shouldn't ask him at ALL he replied, because
what should you say TO himp What should say
TO him why / should say. good mOTningv This
was not satisfactory, walked on in silence for
some minutes, when suddenly observed, 'Saleh, l
saw your wife, 'BiteiAY said he, startled, WhenV
and down went the word in my notebook"
The whole work Of the survey with the exception
of few days journey, was performed ON foot, and
at such wonderful waste of shoeleatheT as led the
author TO regard the fact that the shoes of the chill
dren of Israel waxed not old upon their feet" as
one of the greatest miracles Of the Old Testament
The popular conception of Sinai is that of single
isolated mountain rising conspicuous above
boundless plain of sand. But even in those parts
which most resemble the desert, sand is the excep-
ton. and the soil is more like hard gravel
oath than soft and yielding beach 1t is covered
with low and isolated mountains, with broad pla-
teaux for their SUBMITS The fantastic shapes
and gorgeous cOlOTing of the rocks more than
compensate for the deficiency in hight. In other
portions, there is triangular mass OF mount
aims. the highest peaks reaching to an eIe-
walton of between 5000 to 1900 feet The Arabs
though without any sense of natural beauty are
acute observers of natural detail and their nomen-
clature is singularly pertinent, illustrating III
remarkable degree the physical aspect OF the
country In every locality, each rock, mountain.
ravine. and valley has it's appropriate name Al
though the general aspect of the country is one Of
sheer barrenness and desOatOn, there are intervals
which show not a little fertility There are no large
rivers but many pleasant little rvulet may be met
with here aud there, especially in the romantic
gleus of the granite district. In some places there
are perennial though not continuous, streams, and
large tracts of vegetation. The narrow val
leys collect the moisture, aud produce
thorns, acacia. tamarisk, and other trees,
and in one spot there exists magnificent grove OF