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ARTHUR W. SDTTON^ J.P.^ F.L.S.^ ON 



Bey Shoiicair, who has charge over the Sinai I^eninsnla, and 

 knows the country intimately. His description made me wish 

 more than ever to accomphsh the journey, binding our former 

 dragoman, Andrew lesa, I resolved, at short notice, upon making 

 a start on Thursday, March 7th, providing Cook's would guaran- 

 tee camp being ready in time. There were difficulties and 

 disappointments, but at length the permit for Sinai was secured 

 from N'aum Bey, and arrangements for the necessary camels 

 and Bedouins were made (according to custom) with t-he Arch- 

 bishop of Sinai in Cairo. 



We left Mena House at 9.15 on the day named ; we had fifty 

 minutes to wait at Ismailia — time wherein to admire the place, 

 with its modern residences and lovely gardens ; and at 4.25 we 

 reached Suez-town, where lesa was awaiting us. All was not in 

 order, however : after the manner of his kind, lesa had neglected 

 matters that required urgent attention. Hence, though in other 

 circumstances we might have been in camp by 6.30 or 7 o'clock, 

 we were detained several hours at Suez docks. 



Our way was clear shortly after 10 o'clock, when the moon 

 rose superbly grand, as it only can do in the East ; and though 

 only half-full, it appeared of immense size, and of a rich orange- 

 golden colour. Embarking on a steam launch, w^e made a long 

 detour into the open channel of the Gulf, and shortly before 

 midnight we reached the shore. Through our being late, things 

 had become dislocated ; and the camels which were to have 

 taken us to Ayun Musa (" Wells of Moses ") had left. There was 

 nothing for it but, taking a guide, we should tramp over the 

 sand for some three miles. The moonlight was glorious, and we 

 reached our camp at Ayun Musa a little after 1 o'clock. On 

 arriving at this spot in the spring of 1853, Dean Stanley 

 wrote — 



" The wind drove us to shore : and on the shore — the shore of 

 Arabia and Asia — we landed in a driving sand-storm, and reached 

 this place, Ayiin Mlisa, ' the Wells of Moses.' It is a strange spot 

 — this plot of tamarisks with its seventeen wells — literally an island 

 in the Desert. It is not mentioned in the Bible, but coming so close 

 as it does upon any probable scene of the Passage, one may fairly 

 connect it with the song of Miriam. 



" From the beach, the shore commands a view across the Gulf 

 into the wide opening of the two ranges of mountains, the opening 

 of the valley through which the traditional Exodus took place, and 

 consequently the broad blue sea of the traditional passage. This, 

 therefore, is the traditional spot of the landing, and this, with the 

 whole view of the sea as far as Suez, I saw to-night ; both at 



