It Is Just At This Period Too That The Dates Ripen
In The Valleys Of The Lower Chain Of Sinai, And The Pilgrimage To Sheikh
Szaleh Thus Becomes The Most Remarkable Period In The Bedouin Year.
In the western mountain opposite Sheikh Szaleh, and about one hour and a
half distant, is a fruitful pasturing place, upon a high mountain, with
many fields, and plantations of trees, called El Fereya [Arabic], where
once a convent stood.
It is in possession of the Oulad Said.
We continued from Sheikh Szaleh farther S. till at the end of six hours
and a half we turned to our right into a broad valley, at the
termination of which I was agreeably surprised by the beautiful verdure
of a garden of almond trees belonging to the convent. From thence, by
another short turn to the left, we reached the convent, in seven hours
and a half. We alighted under a window, by which the priests communicate
with the Arabs below. The letter of recommendation which I had with me
was drawn up by a cord, and when the prior had read it, a stick tied
across a rope was
[p.491] let down, upon which I placed myself, and was hoisted up. Like
all travellers I received a cordial reception and was shewn into the
same neatly furnished room in which all preceding Europeans had taken up
their abode.
I rested in the convent three days. When I told the monks that I
intended to go to Akaba, they gave me very little encouragement,
particularly when they learnt that I had no Firmahn from the Pasha; but
finding that I was firmly resolved, they sent for the chief Ghafyr, or
protector of the convent, and recommended me strongly to him.
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