They  were  of  the  same  description  as  St. Abou  Magar,  but  larger  and
in  better  presexvatiou,  particularly  the  latter. Our  tent  was  pitched

beneath


BriiUh  Museum — MSS^fram  the  Egyptian  Monasteries^      57

beneath  the  walls  of  St. Soriani :  Mr. Tattam  immediately  entered  the
convent,  where  pipes  and  coffee  were  brought  him ;  after  which  the
priests  conducted  him  to  their  churches,  and  showed  him  the  books  used
in  them. They  then  desired  to  know  his  object  in  visiting  them  ;  upon
which  he  cautiously  opened  his  commission  by  saying  that  he  wished  to
see  their  books. They  replied  that  they  had  no  more  than  what  he  had
seen  in  the  church ;  upon  which  he  told  them  plainly  that  he  knew  they
had. They  laughed  on  being  detected,  and  after  a  short  conference  said
that  he  should  see  them. The  bell  soon  rang  for  prayers.'

*  Jan. 14th. — Mr. Tattam  went  into  the  convent  immediately  afler
breakfast. The  priests  conducted  him  to  the  tower,  and  then  into  a
dark  vault,  where  he  found  a  great  quantity  of  very  old  and  valuable
Syriac  manuscripts. He  selected  six  quarto  volumes  and  took  them  to
the  superior's  room. He  was  next  shown  a  room  in  the  tower,  where
he  found  a  number  of  Coptic  and  Arabic  manuscripts,  principally  litur-
gies, with  a  beautiful  copy  of  the  Gospels. He  then  asked  to  see  the
rest ;  the  priests  looked  surprised  to  find  he  knew  of  others,  and  seemed
at  first  disposed  to  deny  that  they  had  any  more,  but  at  length  produced
the  key  of  the  apartment  where  the  other  books  were  kept,  and  admitted
him. After  looking  them  over  he  went  to  the  superior's  room,  where  all
the  priests  were  assembled,  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  in  number :  one  of
them  brought  a  Coptic  and  Arabic  selim,  or  lexicon,  which  Mr. Tattam
wished  to  purchase,  but  they  informed  him  that  they  could  not  part  with
it,  as  it  was  forbidden  to  be  taken  away  by  an  interdiction  at  the  end,  but
they  consented  to  make  him  a  copy. 