DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0294
a sportsman's ardour.
277
cleaved to the scene around me. I too felt myself
lifted above the world, and its petty cares and
troubles, and almost hurried into the wild enthusi-
asm which had sent the tenants of these ruined
convents to live and die among the mountains.
Blame me not, reader, nor think me impious, that
with such impressions, on the top of the holy moun-
tain of Sinai, half unconscious what I did, I fired at
a partridge. The sound of my gun, ringing in fre-
quent echoes from the broken and hollow rocks,
startled and aroused me; and chasing the bird
down the mountain side, I again reached "the
place in Horeb," and threw myself on the ground
under the palm-tree, near the fountain of Elias.
I always endeavoured to make my noonday
meal near some rock or ruin, some tree or foun-
tain ; and I could not pass by the fountain of the
prophet. My Arab dwarf had anticipated my
wants; and now prepared some of the genuine
Mocha, which every Arabian (and an Arabian
only) knows how to prepare, exhaling an aroma
that refreshes and invigorates the wearied frame ;
and, in the desert, a cordial more precious than the
finest wines of France or Madeira. Seated under
the palm-tree, monks, Bedouins, Paul, and myself,
all together, eating our frugal meal of bread and
frujj, accompanied with long draughts from the
fountain of Elias, I talked with the Bedouins about
the mountain, consecrated in the eyes of all true
Mussulmans by the legend of Mohammed and his
camel.
In one respect I was very unlucky in this jour-
VOL. I.—A A
277
cleaved to the scene around me. I too felt myself
lifted above the world, and its petty cares and
troubles, and almost hurried into the wild enthusi-
asm which had sent the tenants of these ruined
convents to live and die among the mountains.
Blame me not, reader, nor think me impious, that
with such impressions, on the top of the holy moun-
tain of Sinai, half unconscious what I did, I fired at
a partridge. The sound of my gun, ringing in fre-
quent echoes from the broken and hollow rocks,
startled and aroused me; and chasing the bird
down the mountain side, I again reached "the
place in Horeb," and threw myself on the ground
under the palm-tree, near the fountain of Elias.
I always endeavoured to make my noonday
meal near some rock or ruin, some tree or foun-
tain ; and I could not pass by the fountain of the
prophet. My Arab dwarf had anticipated my
wants; and now prepared some of the genuine
Mocha, which every Arabian (and an Arabian
only) knows how to prepare, exhaling an aroma
that refreshes and invigorates the wearied frame ;
and, in the desert, a cordial more precious than the
finest wines of France or Madeira. Seated under
the palm-tree, monks, Bedouins, Paul, and myself,
all together, eating our frugal meal of bread and
frujj, accompanied with long draughts from the
fountain of Elias, I talked with the Bedouins about
the mountain, consecrated in the eyes of all true
Mussulmans by the legend of Mohammed and his
camel.
In one respect I was very unlucky in this jour-
VOL. I.—A A