Journey through Arabia Petraea, to Mount Sinai, and the excavated city of Petra, the edom of the prophesis . every kindof cultivation as beneath his dignity, the palm some-times forms impenetrable forests. More frequently,however, it is found in solitary state, near a spring,as the design shows it; thus presenting to thethirsty traveller a welcome signal, which assureshim of water for refreshment, and of a friendlyshade for repose. Continuing our course towards the north, wearrived within sight of Sinai, by a series of valleyswhich expand or become narrow according to theircomposition and the
Journey through Arabia Petraea, to Mount Sinai, and the excavated city of Petra, the edom of the prophesis . every kindof cultivation as beneath his dignity, the palm some-times forms impenetrable forests. More frequently,however, it is found in solitary state, near a spring,as the design shows it; thus presenting to thethirsty traveller a welcome signal, which assureshim of water for refreshment, and of a friendlyshade for repose. Continuing our course towards the north, wearrived within sight of Sinai, by a series of valleyswhich expand or become narrow according to theircomposition and the rapidity of the currents thatflow through them. After passing a considerableridge of the mountain which forms the two grandoutlets of the peninsula, (one, that of WadyCheick, which takes its course with Feiran into theGulf of Suez, the other that of Zackal, which de-scends towards the Gulf of Akaba,) we perceivedthe Convent of St. Catharine, standing silently inthe midst of the majestic mountains by which it iscommanded. On the left rises Mount Horeb, aprolongation of Sinai; and in the distance extends. CONVENT OF ST. CATHARINE. 229 the plain where the people of Israel encamped ontheir journey through the wilderness. In order to vary the costume, I have imagined acaravan of Mograbbins approaching the mosque ofthe convent on their return from Mecca. It isusual, when a caravan arrives at the end of ajourney, to discharge a few guns as a signal ofrejoicing. It is not without some degree of embarrassmentthat I enter on the description of the plates whichrepresent these celebrated places ; for, not wishingto go into details, which would extend too farthis summary of my tour, I am compelled to indi-cate briefly only those objects that are mostinteresting. Many other travellers indeed havedescribed them, leaving me little to add ; though Ihave had enough to do to reconcile and render in-telligible the information which they have left shall here, however, content myself with quoti
Size: 1223px × 2044px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., booka, bookcentury1800, bookidgri000033125009344702, bookyear1836
