The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-08-03
ON oE SINAI.

From an article in the Century we
quote the following: 1t does not seem
nigh, because it was yet half hidden
from IL view by the intervening hill.
AS soon rs this hill was mastered the
plain of En- Raha, or "Plain of ASSEM-
olage," came into full view, with the
Sinai range at its southern extreme.
The combination was satisfying-con-
vlneing. Here was the one great
feature the want of which prevented
Mount Serbal from contcsting for the
honors of Sinai. There IS no plain in
the vicinity of Serial extensive enough
to accommodate an asscmblage as
large us Moses led. But here is a vast
plateau of sufficient extent, and, as
we shall presently see when we view il
from Mount Sinai summit, so located
that Moses could overlook it all whom
he read the Law. This must be the true
Sinai, the very mountain upon
which the glory of the Lord rested in
the sight of the people. When facing
It's awful, stately grandeur, | felt rs If
! had come to the end of the world.
How many pilgrims had come from all
parts of the earth TO this very spot to
reverence, to sacrifice. and to worship!
dismountcd to contemplate the sub
me panorama, and Elilucl, my camel
driver. sat down beside me. He hard
lv seemed To understand nv actions.
and ut last interrupted my revcric by
eNclalmihg, as he pointed to the lofty
group, ''Jebcl Muusa- Tayceb,"
l"Mountain of Moses good!') He
also revrrcnccd ii, for he was a
Mohammclan.
What impressts the American
Traveller most sensbly here is the fact
that although mountains abound, and
siream-brds are mere plenty than in
our own White Hills. =; cascade or n
waterfall is never heard. When the
rains fall, the watu' rolls down these
bare, rough aiagunais uninterrupted.
and cmpilcs into tie vadirs, which in
turn lm%prtnously nil the torrents into
the sea with .reat speed. before the
parciied earth hastime to absorb more
Il mere surface supply.
What Il surprise then. when, arrived
al me highest ridge of the vast plateau
OF III kaha, to SEGA bright oasis full of
trees laden with tie rich blossoms of
spring, backed b. the strange, con.
trasting, gloomy walls of the Convent
OF SAINT Gathering No location could
be more chaIming-in the narrowing
valley, nestled at shc feet of the close
~ protecting mNlntains. Upon the
highest ramparts ire set both the can.
non and the cross. 1t was both castle
and convent we were approaching.
More than once thc inmates have been
Obliged to defend themselves against
the maraudcr. ATOM time everymonk
was mastered. Since then more
has been .Xe'ciscd. We were
obliged to prove ourfricndship before
we could gain admitance. We could
not even encampin the ncigl.borhood
until our credentials were examined
md approved.
Arriving ut tho convent wall we sent
up a shout to tlletol. In the course of
time the roiG ola monk sent down .
S,queaky respona': To Il point neal
he top of the wall a tiny structure
Ike dog-kcnnd is attached. From
ms Il small ropewas let down to which
attached oursirman, or letter of in
obtained at the branch in
ut Suez. This was hauled I'M
- "t'' SWIM 'iSNcl'l Nv Il great
loise in the aginl kennel. Then
hick cable WAS hwcred to us and we
we're asked To Get in and come up.n =
5ht the low gatein the wall was swung ,
'pch ut that moment, and VIC chose to 4.
'ntcr fhc convelt by it rather than 90 .
'p by the cable. When we arrived at !;
he quarters of he superior we saw ,
nat the cable WIS not let down by hand ,
Yer hand. but hata clumsy windlnss, ,
worked and tnred by Bcdouin scrfs, !,
'as the power behind the throne. The :.
ombination is believed to be the first "
passenger elevator in the world. !
1t seems rs Though no somblancc of
nmanity should remain in IL place /,
lad sacred by 90 many holy %asSocia- Il
on>, but the CONVENT Is inhabited =
J about SIXTY monks varying in grades
/ sanctity. Nine If them Welded TO
ur camcra. tAbrirdlcss youth afford
d us considernbl. amusement. Re- b
eatedly he cane to ne. with tears in i
is eyes. and htggul for some recipe to n
his beard grow. He said that he I,
'ould not be allowed to read chapel a
until he lad y beard; that r.
all the mdnks but him had 81
"