The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-07-18
FROM SINAI TO AKABAH.
BY THE REV. II. b. RIDGAWAY, D. D.

route from SINAI to the Gulph OF AkaDal
are Ereweis ell Ebeirig, the probable site of
Kibroth hattaavah Mum. vi 1856, and
Ayin Hudhera, that of Hazeroth Mum. ri
50, and xii. Is, 16). The former was the
first station of Israel after leaving Sinai.
1t was the scene of the plague which de-
stroyed so many of the people. There the
quails were sent to surfeit after their com
planning of want of meat. Palmer thinks
he found here clear evidences of a former
large encampment. He concludes from some
traditions floating among the Arabs, about
large pilgrim caravan having gone that
way and persisted, that this encampment
must have been that of Israel. On sec
ond visit, he was confirmed in his opinion.
Ayn Hudhera bears the strongest marks
of being the ancient Hazeroth. We had
passed over long stretch of sandy plain,
amid sandstone ranges and spurs of various
shapes and colors, some of them looking
for all the world like towns, castles, or
Egyptian temples-huge rocks with in
scriptions-till we came quite unexpected
and looking in, as through a gate, beheld
opening before us Wady Hudhera-a deep,
narrow ravine, broadening towards its out
let, and in the midst of it the well sur
rounded by an oasis of green. Approach
ing the we'll, found little garden of
palms, pomegranates, sidras, and some
small patches of barley. Going in among
the palms, / saw their shelter to be the
home of one of our Bedawin. His wife
and little child were by. She was grinding
some wheat with little stone mill, her
loose upper garment drawn over her tattoo
ed face. She did not pause in her work to
look up though I thought as 1 stepped
forward l could see that she cast furtive
glance at the howadj. The children Of
Israel must have passed around and enter
ed this valley from an adjoining wady. 1t
was selected because of its water, its seclu-
sion, and ample accommodations. Here
the rebellion of Miriam and Aaron against
Moses took place. Miriam became leper;
and during the time she was separated
from the people for her leprosy-seven days
the camp was not moved. AS place,
it is physically warm, soft, and inviting.
Just where Wady Hudhera merges into
Wady Wetir is a large acacia, the largest
we have seen in the desert, except possibly
the one in Wady Sa'at, measuring eight
feet six inches in circumference, beneath
which we lunched. 1t was one of those
joyous days never to be forgotten, with all
the conditions Of atmosphere and scenery
to inspire pleasure. Speaking of the
acacia, the size of this and a few other
trees of this species makes against the
opinion that it is the burning bush. The
prevailing size of the acacia, however, is
small, more like large thorn-bush. 1t is
much burned by the Arabs for charcoal,
and at certain seasons is tapped for the
gum which it exudes-the gum Arabic of
commerce. 1t is also very likely the Shit
tim wood of the Bible. 1t would seem
very appropriate that the wood of the
burning bush should be the wood of the
ark of the covenant, above which was to
perpetually blaze the symbol of the divine
presence. In an age when religion was
taught by symbols, such coincidence is
not improbable.
That evening we encamped in Wady ell
Ayin-Valley of the Spring-a broad, pic
turesque basin, surrounded by high noun
tains. The sight of our pretty white tents
against the dark porphyritic rocks, of the
blaze of the Arabs camp.fires, and the
light of the full moon above, was one not
soon to be forgotten.
Next morning the air was bracing and
ba.lmy. DR.. Harvey, of Madison, N. Y,
anI l walked on ahead down the wady, as
it wound around like a serpent, darting
now and then sharply in its turns, and mar
rowing between mountains hundreds of
feet high into space not more than 20
feet wide. We picked up stones of varied
hues from the brook, culled flowers spring
ing by the side of the mountain, and talk
ed of God, his works in nature and his
ways with men. This wady is one of rare
attractions Throughout its course. Beauti-
full at every step, it is especially SO as the
first glimpse of the Gulph of Akabah
breaks upon the view. As | looked upon
its waters lying there smooth and calm,
slight haze resting upon its bosom and en-
veloping the Arabian hills beyond, l felt as
l had not before, l am surely taking hold
upon the far Eastern world. For two or
three days we were creeping along the
west shore of this arm of the Red Sea-
To one accustomed to go by steam or fast
horses, our pace of two and ahalf miles an
hour for but eight or nine hours a day
would seem irksome; but it was not 50.
The shore abounds in shells of every vari-
ETY. of size, color and shape, while fantas-
tic forms of coral stretch their tree-like
limbs from the shallow depth to the sur
face, and shell fish or crabs were seen
scrambling for the water; this allured us
from our canhels and beguiled the time.
In the evening we found plunge into
these ancient waters both romantic and re-
freshing. But what impressed me most
was the utter absence of vessels on the sea
not sail, not a keel or bottom of any
sort, not thing to ruffle the wave but an
occasional forlorn Bedouin casting net
Could there be more whitening comment
on the destructive rule of 1slamism than
that here near it's very cradle, where once
fiourished an active and wealthy navy of
ships, now not a vessel is to be found
either for business or pleasure Once
year only steamer goes around from Suez
to carry stores for the Hag caravan on its
way by Akabah to Mecca There is, more
over, nothing to be seen on either shore to
show that once there fourished high and
active civilization except on the little