ABSTRACT
Many of the stories about the saint in the desert strain credulity, either because of the fauna, or because of the type of actions, involved.3 Many, however, involve encounters with animals that are native to this landscape - serpents, hippos, crocodiles, hoofed creatures such as gazelles and wild goats, hyenas, and Eons4 - and the narratives bear plausible witness to the daily challenges faced by man and beast alike when co-existing in such an environment.
