silk, upon which was placed a wretched print of St. George and the Dragon; before it was suspended a small lamp. The walls were plainly whitewashed, and on a shelf we perceived a few books; two or three in Greek, and some which had been left here by various travellers; here was also a book containing the names of visiters; but none of any very late date.

The Superior of the Convent, a fine majestic-looking man, having conversed with us a short time, ordered a supper, which had been prepared for us, to be served; consisting of rice, soup, and fish, it being contrary to the rule of this Convent for any of its members to eat meat. We soon afterwards retired to rest.

On awaking in the morning, I revelled in the delicious freshness of the air; the thermometer being at 66°, Fahrenheit. The enjoyment of a walk in the garden* was very great-the number and variety of the plants-the care and skill exhibited in their arrangement the ground everywhere intersected by cooling rills—all were evidence of the labour and perseverance which had been employed in "turning the desert into a fruitful field."

There was an abundance of grapes, pomegranates, and olives - I also remarked the mulberry, the peach, and the apricot. From the produce of their garden, the monks are enabled to make a small quantity of wine; and a kind of brandy from the date fruit, for their own use. The garden is detached from the convent, communication being made by a subterraneous

Pococke speaks of a bush, planted in the garden by the monks, which they affirm to be the real one in which God appeared. There is no sign of this at present. The chapel, built by Queen Helena, behind the principal church, is named the Chapel of the Burning Bush, and visiters are informed that the altar occupies the spot where God appeared to Moses. "Then the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed."-Exodus iii 2.

There is a number of rich silver lamps and candlesticks, presented at various times to the chapel. Three silver lamps are constantly burning beneath the altar. The walls are covered with a variety of old Greek paintings, and against them is suspended a multitude of silver crowns and trinkets.

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passage, well secured by an iron door, as a protection from the Arabs. The whole of the convent is tolerably strong, and might resist a hostile assault for a short time. There have of late been no serious attempts made against it. The monks are in the habit of giving bread to any of the Arabs who apply for it peaceably.

In the afternoon, accompanied by the Superior, I went over the convent; the outer walls and church of which were built A. D. 527, by the Emperor Justinian. In about one hundred and forty years afterwards it came into possession of the Greeks.

The church is richly decorated, adorned by columns of the Corinthian order, and a pavement composed, like the walls, of black and white marble. It contains the tomb of St. Catherine; a small chapel here is shown as the spot where God appeared to Moses; which to this day no one is permitted to enter without taking off his shoes. Near the church is situated a mosque.

The legend of the "Invention" of the saint's body runs thus: The body of St. Catherine, after her martyrdom at Alexandria, was brought by angels to the top of this mountain. Having remained there three hundred years, a pious monk, supernaturally informed by a dream, went next morning to the place, with all the religious, who brought it in procession to the monastery,

with honour and grete procession They carien hire unto the next Abbaie.

CHAUCER.

She was said to be the daughter of Costa, a King of Cyprus, who, in the time of Maxentius, converted many unto Christ.

On the summit of the exterior wall, a gallery runs round the church. The monks, who are at present about twenty-five in number, have each his separate occupation, and appear extremely industrious.

On the 12th, I began a view of the chapel of St. Michael, but being