Page:On the Desert - Recent Events in Egypt.djvu/200

 no time do they take meat of any kind, not even a chicken or an egg. We went into the kitchen, where a large pot of lentils was boiling, apparently their only dish. This was the very food for which Esau hungered. I had asked the good brother playfully, if he would receive me as a member of the order? But after seeing this, I thought it would hardly be worth while to sell my birthright of freedom for such a mess of pottage.

As a contrast to this, he took us to the Bishop's room, which was quite grand. Attached to it is a private chapel, which contains a number of small paintings, mostly of saints. But one represented a ladder reaching to heaven, up which monks in great number were pressing their way to where Father Abraham, or the Heavenly Father (for they do not scruple to represent the Supreme Being), with outstretched arms, was waiting for them. Unfortunately some had not strength for the ascent, and were falling off into the reach of devils, who, armed with long forks, like Neptune's trident, stood ready to spear the wretches, and toss them over to the place of burning. This was designed to be a terror to delinquent monks; but the jolly Econome seemed not to mind it, but made himself merry over the picture. Evidently the fear of future retribution did not sit heavy on his soul.

Meanwhile busy preparations were going on for our departure. I had heard the sound thereof from an early hour. As I had looked out of a porthole, I saw a procession of camels at the gate, even before it was opened; and when we descended to the yard, there were lying on the ground camels enough to furnish a caravan. It appeared that, as the supply was greater than the demand, there was a lively competition for the honor of bearing our sacred persons. It is said that there are four families in the valley who do the carrying trade, and as there is not work