567
DJEBEL MOUSA.
dressed in the Ihram, or sacred mantle, with which the Moslems
cover their naked bodies on visiting Mekka, and which then consisted -
only of a napkin tied round the middle ; but this custom
has been abandoned for the last forty years. Foreign Moslem pilgrims ¬
often repair to the spot, and even Mohammed Ali Pasha
and his son Tousoun Pasha gave notice that they intended to visit
it, but they did not keep their promise. Close by the footpath,
in the ascent from St. Elias to this summit, and at a small distance ¬
from it, a place is shown in the rock, which somewhat resembles ¬
the print of the fore part of the foot ; it is stated to have
been made by Mohammed’s foot when he visited the mountain. We
found the adjacent part of the rock sprinkled with blood in consequence ¬
of an accident which happened a few days ago to a Turkish
lady ofrank whowas on her way from Cairo to Mekka, with her son,
and who had resided for some weeks in the convent, during which
she made the tour of the sacred places, bare footed, although she
was old and decrepid. In attempting to kiss the mark of Mohammed’s -
foot, she fell, and wounded her head ; but not so severely ¬
as to prevent her from pursuing her pilgrimage. Somewhat
below the mosque is a fine reservoir cut very deep in the granite
rock, for the reception of rain water.
The Arabs believe that the tables of the commandments are
buried beneath the pavement of the church on Djebel Mousa,
and they have made excavations on every side in the hope of
finding them. They more particularly revere this spot from a
belief that the rains which fall in the peninsula are under the
immediate control of Moses; and they are persuaded that the
priests of the convent are in possession of the Taourat, a book
sent down to Moses from heaven, upon the opening and shutting
of which depend the rains of the peninsula. The reputation, which
the monks have thus obtained of having the dispensation of the rains
