The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-16

Ihefe appears TO be no Satisfactory evi
derce as 10 whether any fish are to be found
IN The Dead Sea. Our guides SAID that
some small black fish have been there, but
others deny this. A dead fish has been
lound on shore near the spot where the
Jordan enters the lake; but this might have
been cast up by the overflow of the river.
II is said that small birds do not fly over this
lake on account of the deleterious nature
OF its atmosphere. About small binds can
not speak; but | saw TWO or three vuliures
winglng their way down it obliquely. The
curious lights which hung over the surface
struck me as showing an unusual state OF
the atmosPhere--the purple murky light
resting on one part and the line Of silver
reiraclion in another. Though the sky vas
clear after the morning clouds had passed
away. the sunshine appeared dim. and the
heat was very oppressive. The gentlemen
OF the party who stayed behind to battle de-
clared, on rejoining Us at lunch time, that
they had found tie common report Of the
buoyancy of the water of this sea not at all
exaggerated, and that it was indeed an easy
matter to float in it, and very difficult to
sink. They also found their hair and skin
powdered with salt when dry. But they
could not admit the greasiness or sickness
which Is said to adhere to the skin after
bathing in the Dead Sea. They were
very positive about this; and they certainly
did observe the fact very carefully. Yet
have seen since my return clergyman who
bathed there, and who declared to me that
his skin was so sticky for some DAYS after,
that he could not get rid of it, even from
his hands. And the trustworthy DR.. Rob
inson, a late traveller there, says:
latter coming out, | perceived nothing
OF the salt crust upon the body of which so
many speak. There was slight pricking
sensation, especially where the skin had
been.chaied. and sort Of greasy feeling, as
of oil, upon the skin, which lasted for sew.
eral hours"
The contrast OF these testimonies, and
the diversity which xsts among the analy.
ses Of the waters which have been made by
chemists seem to show that the quality Of
the waters Of the Dead Sea varies. And il
appears reasonable that it should; for il
must make great difference whether fresh
water has been pouring into the basin O
the lake, after the winter rains, or a great
err evaporation has been going on under the
summers sun. In following the margin o.
the sea We had to cross a creek where my
skirt was splashed. The splashes turned
presently TO thin crusts of salt; and the
moisture and sickness were as great week
afterwards as at the moment.
We wound among salt marshes and
brakes, in and out, on the desolate shore o.
this sea-this sea, which is not the less dead
and dreary for being as clear and blue as a
mountain tarn. As we assembled the ran
ges Of hills which lay between us and the
convent where We were to rest, the Jordsn
valley opened northwards, and the Dead
Sea southwards, till the extent traversed by
the eye was really vast. How beautiful
must IT have been once, when the Jordan
valley, whose veIdure was now shrunk in.
10 black line amidst the sands, was like
an intermnable garden, and when the cities
OF the plain stood bright and busy where
the Dead Sea now lay blank and grey AS
took my last look back, from great e!e.
Walton, l thought that so mournful land.
scaPe, for one having real beauty, had
never seen.-Miss Mdrtjueau.