Anecdota Oxoniensia. Semitic series.

324 CHURCHES AXD 3IMONASTERI'ES OF EGYPT.
mosques the journey is difficult, to the Mosque of the Apostle of God (Medina),
to the holy Mosque (Mecca), and to the most distant Mosque (Jcrusalem);
therefore now give up Sinai, for thou canst not reach it.-The Cadi Abu
'Abdallah Mu hammad ibn Salamah al-Kudai says, after describing the districts
of Egypt: To the southern region belong the localities of the Hedjaz, namely,
the district of Sinai and Faran, the district of Raya and Al-Kulzum, the district
of Ailah and its neighbourhood, Mlidian and its neighbourhood, Al-'Uwaid and
Al-Haura and their neighbourhoods, and next the district of Bada and Shaghb.
I remark: It is not disputed among Christian and Jewish writers that this
Mlount Sinai is that upon which or near which God instructed his prophet
lMoses. There is still there a monastery in the possession of the Mlelkites,
peopled by monks, and owning a large garden with palms, vines, and other
fruits.-Ash-Shabushti savs: Tar Sinc is the mountain upon which the light
appeared to Moses so that he lost his consciousness. The monastery on the
summit of the mountain is built of black stone, the thickness of its walls is
seven cubits, and it has three iron doors, and on the west side there is a small
door, before which a stone is erected which they can raise at pleasure; and
when any visitor approaches they let it down, and the place is covered by it
so that the position of the door is not detected. Within the monastery there
is a spring, and without it another spring. The Christians state that there is
a fire in the monastery like that fire which was at Jerusalem, of which every
evening an equal quantity is consumed; it is white, small, of no great heat so
that it burns nothing, but it grows stronger when a lamp is kindled at it.
The monastery is inhabited by monks, is visited by the people, and is one of
the monasteries which have been celebrated by poets. Ibn 'Amir says of it' 0 monk of tile monastery! whence the brightness and the light?
it shines from that which is in thy monastery At-Tur.
Does perchance the sun dwell there, forgetting his zodiacal signs,
or has the moon removed and hidden herself therein?
Then he said: Neither sun nor moon dwells there,
but wine-flasks have been brought thither to-lay.'
I remark: Christian chroniclers relate that Justinian, emperor of the Romans at
Constantinople, commanded the building of this monastery; a strong fortress was
built within it, in the upper story of which were many cells; and a garrison, taken
from the Arab tribe of Banif Salib, was placed there to defend the monks; in the
time of this emperor the fifth council of the Christians assembled. Between this