On The Ordnance Survey Of Sinai.

circle of standing stones enclosing a cairn of small stones , and beyond this there is an outer circle , the stones of which are larger , and set in the ground so close that they touch each other-The bodies Avere buried in the cists on their left

sides , in that peculiar contracted or bent position Avhich is usually considered one of the oldest forms of burial .

We Avere unfortunate in not finding any ornaments but a tew marine shells and a shell bracelet ; but Mr . Lord , Avho visited the country in the ¦ early summer of 1868 , found a small bracelet of copper associated Avith lance and ai'row-heads . of

flint , and a necklace of beads formed of spiral maaine shells bored through for stringing . The arrow-head which Mr . Lord found is almost equal in finish to the best of those which are found in the ancient sepulchral chambers [ of England and

Scotland . The stone circles range from 10 to 45 feet in diameter . Besides the stone houses and circles there are a

few places in which " cup-markings " are found , and foot or sole marks are cut on the face of the rock in several localities . One stone , with " cupmarkings , " has a curious legend attached to it . It is noAY perhaps impossible to discover who

were the builders of these houses , & c , but it is suggested that they may possibly be the work of those Amalekites who fought against Israel in Bephidim . The next remains which deserve attention are

those of Avhat may be called the monastic period , and these are far more numerous than has been generally supposed , fully bearing out Avhat Burckhardt was the first to advance , that there was at one time as many as 700 or 800 monks resident in

the Peninsula , The activity displayed by the old monks is quite surprising , and a great contrast to the indolence of the present inmates of St . lvatherine ' s ; wherever there is Avater , traces of cultivation and building are to be found , ancl in the vicinity

of Musa and Feiran every available patch of ground on the mountains was formerly a garden . The principal monastic establishments Avere at Musa , Feiran , and Sur . At the former place a number of smaller

monasteries , noAv in ruin , were built in the neighbourhood , probably in connection with Justinian ' s great convent of the Transfiguratian of St Katherine , the only one which has been inhabited for many years . The solid granite walls of the convent have been

so much shaken by winter torrents that it was found necessary at the end of last century to support them by heavy buttresses , and even to rebuild the eastern face . The ancient entrance to the convent , a fine old

doorway , which looks even older than the time of Justinian , is noAv closed , and all visitors have to enter by a postern . The old door Avas protected by a machiacoulis , on which there is an illegible Greek inscription of the same date as the

erection of the convent . The interior of the convent , from the number and different ages of the buildings is very puzzling ; and there is a perfect labyrinth of passages turning and twisting in every direction , ascending ancl descending , exposed to

the full glare of the sun or passing through dark tunnels . The church is a grand old building , and especially striking from the position in which it stands in the heart of the Avilderness . The details of the capitals , & c , are highly interesting , as

sheAving the early use of Christian symbols or emblems in church architecture , and the extensive use made of them in the reign of Justinian .

No two cap itals are the same . One represents two sheep at the foot of the cross , from the arms of Avhich hang an a and »; above the cross is a vine-tendril Avith grapes , on either side a date palm , and beneath , as overcome by the cross , two snakes ,

Another has tAvo sheep standing at an altar which supports a cross ; a third , tAvo birds at the cross ; a fourth , two ibex butting at the cross ; and others have the emblems of the Passion , shirt , nails , box with dice , & c , mixed with clusters of grapes ,

foliage , & c . The great Mosaic of the Transfiguration has been often described , but I am inclined to think that it is of later date than Justinian ; at any rate , the medallions , of Avhich good copies Avere brought home , bear no resemblance to the

knoAvn portraits of Justinian and Theodora . Before leaving the convent it must be mentioned that on many of the arches and Avails , notably on the face of the refectory , knightly pilgrims have been in the habit of cutting their arms , and , in some

cases , their names , and that some of these , dating back to the fourteenth century , are very interesting . ( To be Continued . )

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TIIE BISHOP OE LICHFIEID has instituted the Rev . Francis Paddon Girdlestone , M . A ., of Christ ' s College , Cambridge , to the Koctory of Borriiigton , near Shrewsbury , vacant by the death of the Hon . and Rev . T . H . Noel , M . A ., in the nomination of Lord Berners .