indisposed, from the change in my manner of living, was obliged to take a walk in the garden during the afternoon. In the evening, I was rejoined by Mr. Bonomi. The morning of the 14th was employed in making a view of the church containing the altar and tomb of St. Catherine, which is ornamented with rich mosaic work; the circular part is enriched with slabs of marble; over which is an ancient painting. In the tomb reposed the body of the saint; which the Abbé Geramb was permitted to see: his account is as follows:

"On opening the case, the Superior took reverently in his hands the head; it was enveloped in cloth of gold, and surmounted by a crown, also of gold, and attached with much art. This head was quite black, and had, of course, a shrivelled, mummy-like appearance. The priest afterwards drew forth a hand, which has preserved a singular whiteness; I remarked upon the fingers, the nails of which are still distinguishable, many rings of great value, one among the others of diamonds of great beauty. We were told also of a ring of much greater price, which the saint, they said, had received from our Lord himself, and which she had on her finger when the body was discovered on the mountain that bears her name; this, however, they refused to exhibit, as it is preserved with the greatest care, and may not be touched by any but the Patriarch.

"The Empress Catharine desired for a long time to possess this miraculous ring. So much importance did she attach to its acquisition, that at length she sent an Abbot charged with presents, to demand it in her name. Great was the consternation of the friars; for they dared not refuse anything to so powerful a sovereign, one, also, who had been so zealous a protectress of their monastery.

"After many hesitations, they authorized the envoy to take the ring. They proceeded with their most solemn pomp to open the shrine in which it was deposited. Clothed in magnificent robes, and accompanied by all the ensigns of his dignity, the Abbot approached to perform the object of

his mission at the instant that his sacrilegious hand was preparing to violate the repose of the saint, her anger burst forth from the interior of the tomb in vivid flames, reducing all the ornaments to ashes, and pursuing the rash priest, who was alone enabled to escape the terrible vengeance of St. Catharine by a precipitate flight."

Amongst the most curious mannscripts preserved in the Library, is one to which the Fathers attach great importance; it is the copy of an edict from the Prophet, addressed to all Christians. The original, written in Cufic characters upon the skin of a gazelle, and upon which still remain marks of the Prophet's fingers, is at present in the possession of the Sultan; though formerly preserved in this Convent. In 1517, after the conquest of Egypt, Selim demanded it, and placed a copy, in parchment, certified by himself, among the archives of this monastery. M. Mauchin gives it in his work on Egypt.

"In the Name of God, Merciful and Compassionate,

“Mohammed-ebn-Abdallah gives this Edict for all the world in general. He announces and proclaims that he is the confidant of God, and charged with the keeping of all created beings. And in order that no one, under pretext of ignorance, may err, I have written this letter in the form of an ordinance, for my nation, and for all those who are Christians; from the east and from the west, far and near; for all those that are eloquent and not eloquent, the learned and the ignorant. Those who do not follow that which is related, and do not execute that which 1 ordain, will act contrary to the will of God and merit to be cursed, whoever they are, Sultan or other Mussulman.

66

"If a father or a hermit retire into any mountain, grotto, plain, desert, town, village, or church, I will be behind him as his protector against all enemies, myself in person, my forces and my subjects, although these priests are cancelled by me. I will avoid doing them any hurt. No contributions must be taken from them, unless voluntarily. It is not permitted to change