Whenever A New Sultan Ascends The Throne Of Constantinople, The Convent
Is Furnished With A New Firmahn, Which Is Transmitted
To the Pasha of
Egypt; but as the neighbouring Bedouins, till within a few years, were
completely independent of Egypt,
The protection of the Pashas was of
very little use to the monks, and their only dependance was upon their
own resources, and their means of purchasing and conciliating the
friendship, or of appeasing the animosity of the Arabs.
At present there are only twenty-three monks in the convent. They are
under the presidence of a Wakyl or prior, but the Ikonómos [Greek], whom
the Arabs call the Kolob, is the true head of the community, and manages
all its affairs. The order of Sinai monks dispersed over the east is
under the control of an Archbishop, in Arabic called the Reys. He is
chosen by a council of delegates from Mount Sinai and from the
affiliated convent at Cairo, and he is confirmed, pro forma, by the
Greek patriarch of Jerusalem. The Archbishop can do nothing as to the
appropriation of the funds without the unanimous vote of the council.
Formerly
[p.549] he lived in the convent; but since its affairs have been on the
decline, it has been found more expedient that he should reside abroad,
his presence here entitling the Bedouins to great fees, particularly on
his entrance into the convent. I was told that ten thousand dollars
would be required, on such an occasion, to fulfil all the obligations to
which the community is bound in its treaties with the Arabs.
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Words from 189598 to 189865
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