1 6 8 Travels into j/?^ L e v a n t. Part 
CHAP. XXVIL ■ ' ' 
Of the Mountain of St, Catharine. 
The Moun- TTAviiig repofed our felves in the Monaftery of the Forty Martyrs, we went 
tain of St. J---|^ Q^ji- at One of the Clock, and afcended the Mountain of St. Catharine^ 
Ht arme. ^^^^ before it, taking with us a little Arab Boy, who carryed a fmall Lea- 
ther Bucket full of Water, that we might drink when we were dry. We 
were rear three Hours in getting up that Mountain, we ftopt ( indeed ) feve- 
ral times by the way to drink Water j but befides, the Hill is full of (harp 
cutting Stones, and many fteep and ilippery places to be climb'd up,that hinder 
People from going faft. There are many Stones to be found in afcending this 
Hill, on which Trees are naturally reprefented, that being broken retain the 
fame Figure within ; of which Stones, fome are prodigioufly big. About the 
middle of the Mountain there is a lovely Spring of clear Water, with a great 
Bafon in the Rock. This Spring was difcovered by a Quail, when the Monks 
having brought down the Body of St.'Catharine fo far, were ready to die for 
Heat and Thirft, and that Spring began at that time to run. This water 
was fo hard frozen in the Bafon, that we could not break the Ice with good 
blows of a Stick. In many places of the Mountain, we faw alfo a great deal 
of Snow, and at length, got up to the top of it, where there is a Dome, 
under which is the place whither the Body of èt. Catharine was brought by 
Angels, immediately after fhe was Beheaded in Alexandria-, that holy Body 
remained Three hundred Years there, until a good Monk, having had in the 
Night-time a Revelation , that the Body was in the top of the Hill, went 
next Morning with all the Religious, who in Proceffion brought it down to 
the Monaftery, where it was put in a lovely Silver Shrine, that is ftill there. 
Under the Dome where this Body lay, there is a great piece of Rock riling 
a little out of the Ground, whereon (they fay) the Angels placed it, and ic 
bears ftill the marks, as if a Body had been laid on the Back upon it, for the 
form of the Reins appear there. The Greeks hold that this Cave was made by 
Miracle, but there is fome likelihood that it hath been done by the Hands of 
Men : They made this little Dome about the Rock, in form of a iquare Chap- 
pel. Having in this place paid our Devotions, we came down ag^n v/ith a great 
deal of trouble, and were two long hours by the way ^ fo that we were tired 
enough, when we arrived at the Monaftery of the Forty Martyrs at fix a clock 
at night. 
CHAP. 
Of the Mountain of Moles. 
The Moun- TXTEE fet out of our Lodging on S^^^^^the third of February, 2hont 
tainof Afo/«. VY fevenaclock in the morning, that we might go fee the Mountain of 
Mofes, which is not fo high, nor fb hard to afcend as the former : But there is 
much Snow upon it, afwel as upon the other, and many good Cifterns in fevera! 
places, efpecially near the top, there is a fair and good Ciftern. After feveral 
rcfts, we got to the top about nine a clock. On it there are two Churches, 
one for the Greehj, and another for the L^jfw j from the Greek Church, yea 
enter into that of the Latins, which is dedicated to the Afcenfion of our Lord ; 
\ * there 
