The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-19
on SINAI's SUBLIME SUMMIT.
Travellers Picturesque Description of
the Ascent of the Sacred Mount.

The July Century opens with paper
called Sinai and the Wilderness, Illus
trated with photographs taken by the
author, Edward L. Wilson. From this
article we quote the following: 1t does
not seem high, because it was yet half
hidden from our view by the interven-
ing hill. AS soon as the hill was mas
tered the plan of Er Raha, or "Plain of
Assemblage," came into full view, with
the Sinai range at its southern extreme.
The combination was satisfying-con-
vincing. Here was the one great fea-
ture the want Of which prevented
Mount Serbal from contesting for the
honors of Sinai. There is no plain in
the vicinity Of Serbal extensive enough
to accommodate an assemblage as large
as Moses led. But here is vast plateau
of sufficient extent and, as we shall
shall presently see when we view it
from Mt. Sinai summit, 50 located that
Moses could overlook it all when 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 its awful,
stately grandeur, I felt as 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!
dismounted to contemplate the sub
lime panorama, and Elihuel, my camel
driver, sat down beside me. Hehardly
seemed to understand my actions, and
at last interrupted my reverie by ex-
claiming, as he pointed to the lofty
group "Jebel Mousa-Tayeeb ("Moun-
tain of l1oses-good") He also rever-
enced it, for he was Mohammedan.
What impresses the American travel
er most sensibly here is the fact that,
although mountains abound and stream
beds are more plentiful than in our own
White Hills, a cascade or waterfall is
never heard. When the rains fall the
water rolls down these bare, rough dag
onals uninterrupted, and empties into
the wadies, which in turn impetuously
roll the torrents into the sea with great
speed, before the parched earth has
time to absorb more than a mere surface
supply.
What surprise, then, when, arrived
at the highest ridge of the vast plateau
of Er Raha, to see bright oasis full Of
trees laden with the rich blossoms of
spring, backed by the strange, contrast
ing, gloomy walls of the convent of
Saint Catherine. No location could be
| more charming-fn the narrowing Vai-
ley, nestled at the feet of the closely
protecting mountains. Upon the high
est ramparts are set both the cannon
and the cross. 1t was both castle and
convent we were approaching. More
than once the inmates have been oblig-
ed to defend themselves against the
marauder At one time every monk
was massacred. Since then more care
has been exercised. We were obliged
to prove our friendship before we could
gain admittance We could not even
encamp in the neighborhood until our
credentials were examined and ap-
proved.
Arriving at the convent wall we sent
up shcat to the top. In the course OF
time the voice of monk sent down 9
squeaky response. 10 a point near the
top of the wall tiny structure shaped
like dog-kennel is attached. From
this small rope was let down. to which
we attached our firman, or letter of in
PRODUCTION, obtained at the branch in
stitution of Suez. This was hauled VI
SLOWLY and soon answered by a grea
noise in the aerial kennel. Then thicl
cable was lowered to us and we were
asked to "Get in and come up" Blu
the low gate in the wall was swung
open at that moment, and we chose tt
enter the convent by it rather than g
up by Il cable.
When we arrived at the quarters o
the superior We saw that the cable was
not let down hand over hand, but tina
a clumsy windlass, worked and turned
by Bebouin serfs, was the power behint
the throne. The combination is be
lieved to be the first passenger elevate
in the world.
1t seems as though no semblance O
humanity should remain i'll a plac
made sacred by so many holy associa
tions, but the convent is inhabited b.
about sixty monks varyingin grades O
sanctity. Nine Of them yielded to on
camera. A beardless youth afforded u
considerable amusement. Repeatedl
he came to me, with tears in his eyes
and begged for some recipe to make hi
beard grow. He said that he would no
be allowed to read chapel service unit
be had beard; that nearly all the monk
but him had boards.
How Mrs. Cleveland Spends the Day.
Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. Folsor
> spend the days at Oak View alon
: sinne Rar Mr. and Mrs William CleY,