^f2 Geographical Ohfervations 



Mount Sinai. MountSwai hangs over thisConvent^being called by thty^rabs, 

 {Jihhel Moufa) The Mountain of Mofes, and fometimes only, 

 by Way of Eminence, {El Tor) The Mountain. St. Helena 

 was at the Expence of the Stone-Stair-Cafe, that was former- 

 ly carried up entirely to the Top of it ; but, at prefent, as 

 moft of thefe Steps are either removed, wallied out of their 

 Places, or defaced, the Afcent up to it is very fatiguing, and 

 frequently impofed upon their Votaries as a fevere Penance. 

 However, at certain Diftances, the Fathers have eredled, as 

 fo many breathing Places, feveral little Chappels, dedicated 

 to one or other of their Saints, who are always invoked upon 

 thefe Occafions, and, after fome fmall Oblation, are engaged 

 to lend their AfTiftance. 

 The remarka- Thc Suuimit of Mouut Swat \s fomcwhat conical, and not 

 ^1%?"'""^ very fpacious, where the Mahometans as well as Chriftians 

 have a fmall Chappel for Publick Worfliip. Here we were 

 Ihewn the Place where Mofesfajied forty Days^ Ex. 14. 18. and 

 34.. x8. where he received the Law, Ex. 31. 18. where he hid 

 himfelf from the Face of God, Ex. 33. ii. where his Hand 

 was fupported hy jiaron and Hur, at the Battle with ^malek, 

 Ex. 17. 9. II. befides many other Stations and Places that are 

 taken Notice of in the Scriptures. 

 The Valley of Aftcr wc had defcended, with no fmall Difficulty, down the 

 Rephidun. -^efl-ej-i-, sije of this Mountain, we come into the other Plain 

 that is formed by It, which is Rephidim. Ex. 17. i. Here we 

 The Rock o/ftill fee that extraordinary Antiquity, the Rock of Merihah, 

 Meribah. gj. ^-^ ^ which hath continued down to this Day, without 

 the leaft Injury from Time or Accidents. It is a Block of 

 Granate Marble, about fix Yards fquare, lying tottering as it 

 were and loofe in the Middle of the Valley, and feems to have 

 formerly belonged to Mount Sinai, which hangs, in a Variety 

 of Precipices, all over this Plain. The Waters which gujhed 

 out, and the Stream v^Wich flowed withal, Pfal. 7. 8. ai. have 

 hollowed acrofs one Corner of this Rock, a Channel about two 

 Inches deep, and twenty wide, appearing to be incruftated all 

 over, like the Infide of a Tea -Kettle, that hath been long in Ufe. 

 Befides feveral Mofly Produ6lions, that are ftill preferved by 

 the Dew, we fee all over this Channel, a great Number of 

 Holes, fome of them four or five Inches deep and one or two in 

 Diameter, the lively and demonftrative Tokens of their having 



been 



