236 AUSTRALIA AND HOMEWARD. 



But, oh, that awful desert through which we passed 

 before we looked upon these green fields ! Poor He- 

 brews ! who could blame you for murmuring ? Yet even 

 here God's mercy was seen. In some way He mani- 

 fests Himself to us all if we but seek Him, and He will 

 lead us through severest trials to the Promised Land. 



I see that some of the modern maps represent the 

 hosts of Israel as passing the water of the Red Sea at 

 the Bitter Lakes, and not at the Red Sea proper. 

 Whatever some explorers may think, I am thoroughly 

 convinced that the crossing was at Suez. 



In going to Cairo by train, we ran all along the 

 south shore of the Bitter Lakes. Nowhere along these 

 shores could it be said that the Hebrews were, 

 thoroughly hemmed in, until they were driven as far 

 east as Suez. There they must stop, for the lofty 

 range of hills, extending back from the bold promon- 

 tory, called by the sailors Mount Attaka, standing 

 right out in the sea, would quite prevent their mov- 

 ing any farther in that direction. 



If we look at the distance travelled from Memphis 

 to Elim and beyond, in six weeks (see Exodus xvi. 1), 

 and allow their progress to be twelve miles per day, 

 we shall feel the more certain that they crossed at 

 Suez, and did not take the route marked in some 

 recent (improved ?) Bible maps. 



