Chapter LI: Appendix: C. (P. 306.)—Robinson gives the distances from Ayûn Mûsa to the

point where Wadi Schebêkeh and Wadi Tâibeh meet, vol. iii. Div. ii. p. 804; these accord with BURCKHARDT, p. 624, 625, who also records the more remote points as far as Wadi Firân; these last are confirmed by mine, if we calculate his circuitous route by Dhafari. Robinson’s calculation, p. 196, does not, however, take into consideration the circuitous route, from four to five hours longer from the Convent, through Wadi e’ Scheikh, for Burckhardt passed over the Nakb el Haui in eleven hours to Firân, while we occupied sixteen, without including the short way round through the Kteffe valley. After this the distances stand thus: From Ayûn Mûsa to Ain Hawâreh 18 hours 35 minutes; then to Wadi Gharandel, 2 hours 30 minutes (not from one hour and a half to two hours from Robinson’s place of encampment as it is calculated above, p. 307); to the outlet of the valley near Abu Zelîmeh, 7 hours 12 minutes; to the sea, 1 hour; to Wadi Schellâl, 4 hours 15 minutes; to Firân, 13 hours 45 minutes; to the Convent, 16 hours. Robinson cannot remove the encampment in the Wilderness of SIN to a more southern point than the outlet of WADI SCHELLÂL, because the people here, according to him, stept forth out of the Wilderness of Sin. For the same reason he is compelled to place ALUS in FIRÂN. On the other hand, in my opinion, not alone is the encampment at the sea not different from that at the outlet of the valley at Abu Zelîmeh, but the Wilderness of Sin mentioned in the Book of Exodus, which extended as far as Sinai, and ended with Raphidîm, is also the same as the two stations mentioned in the Book of Numbers, Daphka and Alus, and therefore in the last passage should as little have been mentioned as peculiar places of encampment, as the Red Sea. The Wilderness of Sin accordingly, like the Wilderness of Sûr, embraced three days’ journey. The stations, and their remoteness from each other, stand therefore as follows:

According to ROBINSON.

HOURS. MIN.

I. 6 12 } three Stations from Ayûn Mûsa to Ain
II. 6 12 } Hawâreh = MARAH.
III. 6 12 }

IV. 2 30 to Wadi Gharandel = ELIM.

V. 8 12 to the Sea.

VI. 4 15 to Wadi Schellâl = Wilderness of SIN.

VII. 7 } two Stations to Firân = DAPHKA and ALUS.
VIII. 7 }

IX. 8 } two Stations to the Plain of Râha = Raphidîm
X. 8 } and SINAI.

According to _my_ assumption.

I. 7 } three Stations to Wadi Gharandel = MARAH.
II. 7 }
III. 7 }

IV. 7 12 to the Outlet of the Valley near Abu Zelîmeh = ELIM.

V. 6 } three Stations to Firân, _i. e._ by DAPHKA and
VI. 6 } ALUS to Raphidîm at SINAI.
VII. 6 }

It is easy to imagine why the latter stations are somewhat shorter than the first, on account of the greater difficulty of the road. According to Robinson, the fourth station would be scarcely explicable. Why did the people murmur so near the twelve springs of Elim? How would precisely that strikingly long journey of more than eight hours, from Elim to the sea, not have been mentioned at all? And how was it possible that the days’ marches should have constantly increased in length amidst the lofty mountains and difficult ground?