216 ME. B. M. BEDHEAD ON THE FLOBA OF SINAI. 



the peninsula, was growing a lovely little Stipa, with feathery 

 beard of about an inch long, ^rd the whole height of the glaucous 

 plant*. 



And now we approach the central and most elevated district of 

 the peninsula, and, crossing the great arid plain Er-rahah amidst 

 red and yellow granite peaks, we have in front the vast mass of 

 Horeb, with the triple peaks of Eas-es-Safsafeh overhanging the 

 plain, a mountain-range sanctified long ages since by the more 

 immediate presence of the Most High, and which appears even 

 now, in the extreme fragrance of its herbage, to offer a continued 

 incense to Him at whose presence (Exodus, xix. 18) "Mount 

 Sinai was altogether in a smoke, because the Lord descended upon 

 it in fire.'* 



. Certainly the approach to Sinai by the plain Er-rahah is one of 

 the grandest scenes it has fallen to my lot to behold. It is not 

 here the place to speak of the convent or the church of Saint 

 Catherine ; but I may note that in the well-watered garden the 

 almond-trees (March 6) are now covered with blossom, as are also 

 the plums and pears, their pink and white flowers contrasting 

 charmingly with the dark green of the numerous cypress and 

 orange-trees, and the silver grey of the luxuriant olives. By the 

 courtesy of the Hegoumenos we tasted the fruit of the orange- 

 trees and found it sweet and well flavoured, which surprised 

 xne, as I am told that not unfrequently water is frozen in the 

 cells of the convent, and the trees appear to have no protection. 



As yet, owing to the early period of the year (March 7), and the 

 elevation of the district, there are few plants in flower here; but 

 during our ascent of GebelMusa, followed by thatof Eas-es-Safsafeh, 

 two points especially struck me, — first, the great preponderance 

 of scented, and especially of Labiate plants ; and secondly, the very 

 woolly, tomentose character of those not Labiates. 



As we ascend behind the convent, the first plant of interest JS 

 one common enough in the south of Europe, but noteworthy here 

 as the only fern seen in the peninsula, Adiantum ca^illus-Vene- 

 ris, which grows freely in a small rocky recess overhanging a 

 clear spring about twenty-five minutes' walk above the convent; 

 the fronds are small, for the most part barren, with deeply- divided 

 pinnules. We now ascended a rugged but most picturesque path 

 between vast masses of fallen granite, amid which grow bushes of 

 Plilomis fruticosa, to the chapel of the Panagia, who is said to have 



I am informed that this plant grows througliout the Sahara, the A£ncB.n 

 desert* 



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