They Said Likewise, That On
The Arabian Coast Of The Gulf, Two Or Three Leagues Short Of Suez, Was
The
Fountain which Moses caused to spring from the rock by striking it
with his rod, being still called by the
Arabs the fountain of Moses, the
water of which is purer and more pleasant than any other. They said that
from Toro to Cairo by land was seven ordinary days journey, in which
the best and most direct way was through Suez: But that since the
Turkish gallies came to Suez they had changed the road, going two
leagues round to avoid Suez, after which they turned to the west.
[Footnote 319: Surely this passage should be only three short days
journey. - E.]
I afterwards conversed with a very honest, learned and curious
Mahometan, whom I asked if he could tell where the Jews crossed the Red
Sea; on which he told me that both in tradition and in some old writings
it was said that the Jews, fleeing from the Egyptians, arrived on the
coast of Egypt directly opposite to Toro, where Moses prayed to God
for deliverance, and struck the sea twelve times with his rod, on which
it opened in twelve several paths, by which the Jews passed over to the
other side to where Toro now stands; after which the Egyptians
entering into these paths were all destroyed to the number of about
600,000 men. That from Toro Moses led the Israelites to Mount Sinai,
where Moses spake many times with God. I approved much of this opinion;
for if the passage had been at Suez, as some insist, the Egyptians had
no occasion to have entered into the sea for persecuting the Jews, as
they could have gone round the bay and got before them, more especially
as they were horsemen and the Jews all on foot. For though all these
things came about by a miracle, we see always on like occasions there is
a shew and manner of reason. I asked of this Moor if it were true that
the Christians of Cairo had carried away the body of St Catharine from
Mount Sinai; but he said he had never heard of it, neither did he
believe the story; and that only four months before he had been in
Cairo, which city they call Mecara[320], where he heard of no such
thing. He thought likewise that the Christians about Mount Sinai would
never have permitted such a thing, as they all considered that woman as
a saint, and held her body in great reverence. He told me also that two
or three leagues before coming to Suez there is a fountain which was
given to the Jews at the intercession of Moses, whom they call Muzau,
the water of which surpasses all others in goodness. On inquiring what
kind of a place was the town of Suez, he said he had never been there,
as no person could enter that town except those appointed by the
governor of Cairo for taking care of the gallies, nor come nearer than
two leagues under pain of death.
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