.[ 43 ] 
between Gebel El Zait, on the weft fide of this fea, and 
the fouthermofl point of the bay of Tor, on the eaft fide 
of this weftern branch of this fea, where it is not above 
twelve or fourteen miles over. I fuppofe fuch a wind, 
hindering the water from going out, caufes this extra- 
ordinary encreafe in the fpring tides. We fee the 
fame thing happen with the fame winds at Venice, 
both golfs running nearly in the fame direction. 
The Egyptian, weftern, or Thebaic fhore, from 
Badeah fouthward to oppofite Tor, on the eaftern 
fhore, is all mountainous, and fteep ; and at Elim, the 
northermoff point of the bay of Tor, ends the ridge of 
mountains, which begin on the eaftern fhore of this 
weftern branch at Karondel. I fay nothing of Elim, 
or Tor, or the marine productions of this golf, as this 
paper is intended to give an account of Sharme, Meenah 
El Dzahab, Kadefh Barnea, the ftone which Mofes 
{truck twice, and theinfcriptions. I, however, muftfay, 
that, from this place, mount Sinai, properly called, can- 
not be feen ; but only the ridge or groupe of mount- 
ains, in w'hich it is, and which altogether form that part 
of this tongue of land called in general Mount Sinai. 
The garden of the Monks of MountSinai at Elim rend- 
ers in dates, &c. 20.000 piaftres per ann. or JT 2.500. 
We from thence crofted the plain, in about eight 
hours, and entered the mountains of Sinai. They are 
of granite of different colours. At the entrance of the 
narrow breach, through which we pafted, I faw, on a 
large loofe granite ftone, an infcription in unknown 
characters, given, I think, by Dr. Pocock, bifhop of 
Oftory ; however, as the Israelites had no writing, 
that we know of, when they pafted here, I did 
not think it of confequence enough to flop for ; 
, G 2. the 
