The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-10-11
THE ROUTE OF MOSES.
~ is Followed by an American who De-
scribss Its Charaoterist les

" ~ EoiIowsd by an American VINO De-
scribes Its Charsoterist les
Tho namo Jebol Nagous Is given by
the Bcdouins to mountain nearly
three miles long and about |, 200 foot
high, composed OF white sandstone
bearing quartz pebbles and quartz
veins. Resting on the northern and
western sides are several large banks
OF blown sand inclined Mt right angles.
The sand OF one OF these Mt the north
western end has the property OF yield
ing n deep note when IL slides down
the incline either from the force OF tho
wind or by tho action OF man. This
bank OF sand | distinguished from tho
others by calling il the "Bell slope" y"
IL Is triangular in shape and measures
26O feet across the base. five To eight
feet across tho top. and is 39l feet long
(high). II has the high inclination OF
81 degrees quite uniformly. IL is bound
ed by vertical cliffs OF sandstone and
Is broken toward the base by pro
iccting rocks OF tho same material
The sand is yellowish white, very fine,
and possesses Mt this inclination IA curl
Gus mobility which causes IL To flow
down the slope. when disturbed, like
molasses or soft pitch, the depression
being filed in from above and advapc-
ing upward at tho same time. The
sand has none OF tho characteristics OF
musical sand found on so-callod emu
steal beaches" When pulled down
ward by the haSls or pushed by the
feet n strong vibration is felt and n low
note is plainly heard resembling tho
deep bass OF an organ pipe. The loud
ness and continuity OF the note are re-
lated to the mass OF sand moved, but |
think that those who compare IL to dis
tant thunder cxnggerate. The border.
ing rocky walls give II marked echo
which may have the effect OF magnify
ing and prolonging the sound, but
which aftcrward demonstrated not TO
be essential. There are no cavities
for the sand to fall in, enormously re-
ported. The peak OF Jebel Nagous
rises above the Bell slope to the height
of 995 feet above the sea level, rs de-
tcrmincd 10y II sensitive anoroid.
Our route was the first To tho mon
astery OF Mount Sinai, by the route
believed to have bocn followed by
Moses and the Israclites. With Bibles
in our hands we followed every step OF
tho way. "Marah." "Elmi," "Rephi-
DIM" and the Mountain OF the Lord"
became perfectly familiar to us.
Mounted on camel one can read and
write notes; they walk steadily at two
and half miles an hour, aud the usual
days work is eight or nine hours.
Thus given locality, especially a
mountain peak, is in sight for many
hours, sometimes for days. We exam
ined the rock which, according TO ira
dition. Moses struck and from which
water flowed out for the thirsty Israel
ties. We stood or the hill where
Moses stood during the battle with the
Anlelekites. and his hands were sup
ported by his friends. We crawled
into a cave on the top OF Jebel Monsa,
In which, according TO tradition, no
wrote the ten commandments, though
this IS not according TO Scripture teach-
ing.
The great scarcity Of water, the us-
ter desolation OF the wilderness. aud
eventual grandeur OF the granite range
OF Mount Sinai impressed us greatly.
Between Suez and Mount Sinai there
is only Que place, the oasis Of Feiran,