The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-23

stone. There Is not . particle OF vege-
tatiOn except in the garden adjoining
the monastery, where the tops Of = few
time was when strangers were raised
into the monastery by means of q pull
ley. Now, however. the gate is kept
open. The monks no longer have to
contend with enemies as in the earlier
days, when the Arabs sought to ami
hilate them.
Within the lofty wallis are several
buildings, separated by narrow, dark al
leys. The walls are pierced for musket
and cannon and q few cannon are
mounted on them. They are objects of
curiosity, but could do little harm toan
enemy. The two most conspicuous
buildings are the church and the chapel
of the Burning Bush, where, according
to the local tradition, God spoke to
Moses. The library was once very rich
in treasures. but the rarest manuscripts
dorf found the text Of the gospels.
which is known now under the name Of
the Codex Sinaticus
Mr. Grad learned that while the
monks were friendly and hospitable
they accepted with pleasure the money
he offered for his entertainment The
convent is now very poor and subsists
largely on aims. There are only thir-
teen monks, most of them natives of
the GreciAn isles and well advanced in
years Their white boards OF unusual
length give them venerable aspect
Fresh blood is introduced BOW and then.
and when Mr.. Grad visited the monAs-
terry in 1886 two young men had just ar
rived, having consecreted themselves TO
the life of pious isolation. Few build
ings in civilized lands are rs old as some
of the structures within these walls
The monastery was founded in the sixth
century, and the church, built during
that epoch, is still standing. Its corner
stone. the inscription says. was laid in
the year SGT A. d., by Justinian and hia
wife Theodore Behind the church,
sheltered from the sun, are the wells
which provide the monastery with fresh
and limpid water. According 10 the
monks, Moses aided the daughters Of
Jethro to water their hocks Mt this
fountain.
Mr.. Grad climbed to the top Of Sinai
A rude stairway of about three thou
sand steps, made of pieces of rock
placed one above another lead 10 the
top. There is also q more circuitous
route, which some tourists prefer to the
sleeper climb. On the way up the path
~. nal 4~1 a.
virgin, which illustrates one Of the
numerous legends of which the old
mountain Is the subject. II is said that
in the early days of the monastery the
monks were driven out Of the convent
by an invasion of heas They retreated
TO the top of the mountain, where the
virgin met them, ordered them to re-
turn to the convent, and promised to
deliver them from their enemies The
monks obeyed, and not flea could be
found when they re-entercd the monas-
terry. 1t is proper to add tina. the heas
have returned.
Two more little chapels are along the
steep path. They are dedicated TO the
prophets Elijah and Elisha In the
chapel of Elijah the monks show a
crevice in the rock where the prophet,
il is said. retired after the staying Of
the priests at Baal. On the top OF the
are Greek and Mohammcdan
chapels, for the mountain Is an object
of generation TO Christians aud the fol-
lowers of Islam. Mohamnsed visited
the mount ain. and from It's summit, IL
has been said he was translated to
Heayen- On this spot mingie the tradi-
tons of the Bible and the Koran. and
this barren rock has an important place
in the history of the descendants Of
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