Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-28


scenes around the GASES in the desert with the
camels lying down to rest or grouped around
the wells-simply holes in the ground, shallow
poos-slaking their great thirsts. In this
country. near some of the GASES. the travellers
PICKED some dandelions and daisies, OCCASION
any running across some sorrel and spearmint,
weeds that made them think of home
The scenery grew wilder and more Norwegian
as the caravan progressed into the peninsula
anu toward Sinai, with great peaks breaking
the horizon and forming fantastic pictures
along the line of march. Here was an enormous
boulder lying detached from the mountain
side. which the Bedouns. with bated breath. told
was the rock which Moses struck for water that
day IN the wilderness when everybody was
thirsty. The travellers look at it with reveren-
ual awe until they learn that there is another
rock on another route to Sinai which the
Bedoulns point out with the same solemnity of
manner as the same bit of biblical property.
inen, whea 1t becomes apparent that these
fellows lave appropriate sights to show on
Whatever routes the travellers may take, faith
In the native simplicity is shaken.
AN ARABIAN YARN.
As the caravan goes winding it's way up the
deep ravine surrounded on either hand by tall
granite walls, the sheik points to a long round
stone on the waysde and says that it is the
back OF woman. When pressed for an ex-
PLANTATION OF this singular statement he tells
story. He says that once upon time-even
Arabian stories that have misty foundations
begin In this wise-a lad was going along this
ravine carrying the dead body of his mother on
her bier Oh the top of his head, this being the
way they carry the dead to the grave in
Arabia. All at once he came up with an old
man, who asked him what he had on his head.
DE told the old man, wishing to be polite, that
1t was his mother. The old fellow thereupon
asked the boy to give her to him for a wife,
but the youth demurred, upon the rather
reasonable plea that she was dead. This did
not deter the old man in the least and he kept
at his opportunities until the old lady herself
rose mp and said that she had no objections to
the old man as a husband. But the course of
true love never runs smoothly-in rising from
her bier she lost her balance and tumbed
down the side of cliff her body being marked
in stone to this day. The impression left on
the mind of the traveller is that an offer of
woman from the dead
Away up in Mount Sinai, which is colec-
ton OF peaks rather than single mountain ia
an Arabian cemetery. the spot, the Bedouins
say, with their accustomed veracIty, where
Aaron raised the golden calf that day when the
folks in the 1sraelite caravan wanted something
to worship. Some distance above this spot is
the monastery, although i'll the photograph the
distance seems to be but trifling. This is owing
to the remarkably clear air in this region
what seems to be a few feet is really rods
away and miles are but yards. This monu-
ment Is rather an ancient establishment, dating
good many centuries back. 1t is surrounded
by wall, inside OF which is a most monde
script collection of buildings, dating from all
sorts of ages. The Church of the Transtigura-
ton is a very old building with modern bel
Try and next to 1t stands Mohammedan
mosque. This strange contguity of the two
faiths has for its object the modifying OF any
hordes Of Arabs who might descend upon the
monastery with plunderous intent. In fact
Mount Sinai is sacred to not only Christians.
but Israelites and Mohammedans as well and
the priests of the Greek church who inhabit
the monastery give an equal welcome to all.
THE VIEW FROM SINAI.
On the peak OF Sinai magnificent view is to
be had, stretching out over hundreds of miles
OF this mountain-torn region, over looking peak
after peak which seem to be wit hin reaching
distance. Here, on one OF the many peaks
that form the Mount Jebel Booza, is the spot
where, according to tradition, Moses stood when
he received the law from heaven, and on the
very spot--as near as can be calculated-are
several chapeis.
While at Sinai the travellers stopped in their
tents, in the shade of the garden, although they
were invited to occupy rooms In the monas-
terry; they had heard from other travellers that
there were certain small objections to the
rooms" and they preferred their tents. Up to
thirty years ago visitors to the monastery were
admitted by means of a windlass and rope and
basket let down from the walls Now, how
ever, there is a gate. In the belfry of the
Church of the TRANSPORTATION is singular sort
OF bell. consisting of large plank of wood
fastened by the four corners and beaten upon
with wooden mallet. 1t gives out distinct
tone that can be heard for some distance up the
valley. The word ..nagoose," which is the
name OF this sort of bell, is also applied to the
mountain Oh the western side Of the peninsula,
close to the Red sea. where the ravInes are
filled with the famous musical sand" Prof.
Bolton visited this spot, and found the sands
to exist as has been stated. They give out a
low, deep tone with distinct musical quality
whenever they are disturbed and rolled down
the slopes.
Many other interesting views were shown.
taking the audience through this wonderful
land as wildly as though they were on the roll.
ing ship of the, desert" and seeing the places
made sacred by the footprints Of these rather
well-known men who lived a few years ago.