in 



Arabia Petrara ^c. ^^i 



together. The more immediate Place of the Shehinah is ha- The church of 

 noured with a httle Chappel, which this old Fraternity of St/guraTioT^" 

 Bafil hath in fuch Eiteem and Veneration^ that, in Imitation 

 oi Mofes , they put off their Shoes from off their Feet, when 

 they enter or approach it. This, withfeveral other Chappels, 

 dedicated to particular Saints, are included within the Churchy 

 as they call it, of the Transfiguration, which is a large beau- 

 tiful Strud:ure, covered with Lead, and fupported by two Rows 

 of Marble Columns. The Floor is very elegantly laid out in 

 a Variety of Devices in Mofaic Work : of the fame Work- 

 manfliip likewife are both the Floor and the Walls of the 

 Treshyterium, upon the latter whereof is reprefented the Figure 

 of the Emperor Juftinian, together with the Hiftory of the 

 Transfiguration. Upon the Partition, which feparateth the 

 Treshyterium from the Body of the Church, there is placed a 

 fmall Marble Shrine, wherein are preferved the Skull and one 

 of the Hands of St. Catharine. 



The Pilgrims are not admitted into this Convent by the P'V'W «ot 

 Door, (which is never open, unlefs when the Arch-Bifliop,''^'f'i>/c'- ^ 

 who ufually relideth at Kairo, is to be inftalled) but we are 

 drawn up, by a Windlafs, near thirty Foot high, and then taken 

 in, at a Window, by fome of the Lay Brothers, who attend there 

 for that Purpofe. Thefe, and the Tapaffes or Treshyters, who are 

 commonly called Kalories ', make in all, about a hundred and 

 fifty in Number, fubiifting chiefly upon fuch Provifions as are 

 fent them monthly from Kairo. They live a very ftri6t and The A.prUy 

 auftere Life, abftaining not only from Flefli, but alfo from "^"'^ '"''^"'' 

 Butter, Milk, and Eggs ; nothing of which we were permitted 

 to bring into theConvent, though we could have purchafed them 

 Q^thQ^rahs. The leaft Mortification they undergo, is upon thofe r/«v out. 

 Days, (which indeed are not many,) when they receive, from 

 their Sifter Convent at Tor, or ^xomMeenah elDfahah, aQuantity 

 of Shell Fifti, Crabs or Lobfters, all other Fifti being prohibited 

 by their Inftitution. For Bread is the main Article of their 

 Suftenance, to which is added fuch a Portion, as is meafured 

 out to each Perfon, either of Olives, Oyl and Vinegar, Sallad 

 and Potherbs ; or elfe of Dates, Figs, Almonds, parched Pulfe 

 and fuch like Food as was the {zy\^o<puy^a'-) Dry Diet of the Pri- 

 mitive Chriftians. 



I KBtfi(!j4£?5-. i, Q. it good old Man. Vid.Tournef.Voy. vol.i. p. 121. 2 Vid. Terttill. de Jejunlo. 



Tttt X Mount 



