(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)
A pilgrimage from Palestine to Mount Sinai over a new route was made by a party consisting of three prominent Jews in Palestine. The party consisted of Dr. Judah L. Magnes, dean of the Hebrew University; Col. Frederick H. Kish, political representative of the Zionist Executive in Palestine; and Norman Bentwich. Attorney General of Palestine.
The party travelled by a route of which there is no previous record. although the journey to Sinai from Suez and from other points on the Gulf of Suez, has been frequently accomplished.
After two days travel by car, the party proceeded on camels up to the point of Bir El-Themed where trekking commenced. It took four and a hali days of hard going to reach the Mount Sinal Monastery. with ten hours marching every day without being able to exceed an average of two and a half miles per hour. Water is very scarce on this route. although at some point or other it could be picked up from a spring or well on the road each day.
Colonel Kish reported that “after two days’ marching the first sign of life was struck in the shape of a cemetery by the side of a rough stone shrine.” On the fourth day human faces were met for the first time, a few Bedouin charcoal burners continuing the work which through centuries has reduced almost to nothing the bushgrowth which once probably covered large paris of the Peninsular.
A succession of indescribably impressive views marked the approach of Mount Sinai. Its ascent has been made easy by the construction of rough granite steps some 3,000 in number, made by pilgrims through many generations. The mountain itself is red granite. except near the summit where the red gives place to white. On the extreme summit of the peak are a small chapel and a mosque. The fascination of the place lies in the whew of successive ranges of granite mountains and in the traditions associated with the mountains.
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