DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0030
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22 incidents of travel
CHAPTER II.
Evening Amusements.—A Trial of the Feelings.—A Disappoint-
ment.—A Santon of the Desert.—An Arab Fisherman.—Turk-
ish Costume.—A potent Official.—A comfortless Sick-room.—
A Visit from the Sheik.—Interested Friendship.—Akaba.—The
El Alouys.—Questionable Piety.
It was late in the afternoon when our little cara-
van entered the narrow opening, presenting itself
like a natural door between precipitous rocks sev-
eral hundred feet in height. Passing this, and con-
tinuing onward to a vast amphitheatre, or hollow
square of lofty rocks, through a larger opening on
our left, we again saw the dark waters of the Red
Sea. About midway across I dismounted from my
dromedary to survey the scene around me ; and,
among the many of high interest presented to the
traveller in the wilderness of Sinai, I remember none
more striking and impressive. It was neither so
dreary and desolate, nor so wild and terrible, as oth-
ers I had seen, but different from all. The door
by which we entered was undistinguishable, the
rocks in the back-ground completely closing it to
the sight; on all sides except towards the sea, and
forming almost a perfect square, were the naked
faces of the rock, lofty, smooth, and regular, like
the excavate I sides of an ancient quarry, and quiet
to that extraordinary and indescribable degree of
is
22 incidents of travel
CHAPTER II.
Evening Amusements.—A Trial of the Feelings.—A Disappoint-
ment.—A Santon of the Desert.—An Arab Fisherman.—Turk-
ish Costume.—A potent Official.—A comfortless Sick-room.—
A Visit from the Sheik.—Interested Friendship.—Akaba.—The
El Alouys.—Questionable Piety.
It was late in the afternoon when our little cara-
van entered the narrow opening, presenting itself
like a natural door between precipitous rocks sev-
eral hundred feet in height. Passing this, and con-
tinuing onward to a vast amphitheatre, or hollow
square of lofty rocks, through a larger opening on
our left, we again saw the dark waters of the Red
Sea. About midway across I dismounted from my
dromedary to survey the scene around me ; and,
among the many of high interest presented to the
traveller in the wilderness of Sinai, I remember none
more striking and impressive. It was neither so
dreary and desolate, nor so wild and terrible, as oth-
ers I had seen, but different from all. The door
by which we entered was undistinguishable, the
rocks in the back-ground completely closing it to
the sight; on all sides except towards the sea, and
forming almost a perfect square, were the naked
faces of the rock, lofty, smooth, and regular, like
the excavate I sides of an ancient quarry, and quiet
to that extraordinary and indescribable degree of
is