The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-09-16
THE DEAD SEA.

ton was planned by Lieut.. Lynch and assented
to by the Secretary of the Navy in the Spring of
l847. The store ship "Supply' took out Lieut..
Lynch and two metallic boats as Transports
These boats were carried over mountain cores
and precplces by the party appointed for the ex-
petition, and on the 9Th of April, l84S, they
were launched upon the Sea of Gahlee. The
Richmond Republican has condensed the inter-
esting article of Lieut. Maury as follows:
The navigation of the Jordon was found to be
most difficult and dangerous, from its frequent
and fearful rapids. Lieut.. Lynch solves the Sc
cret OF depression between Lake Tiberlas and
the Dead Sea by the tortuous course of the Jordan
which in distance Of sixty miles, winds through
a course OF two hundred miles, Within this dis
lance Lieut.. Lynch and his party plunged down
no less than twenty seven threatening rapids;
besides many others of less descent The differ.
ence of level between the two seas is over
thousand feet.
The water of the Jordan was sweet to within
a few hundred yards OF its mouth. The waters
of the were devoid of smell, but bitter, salt.
and nauseous. Upon entefng it, the boats were
encountered by gale, and sit seemed as if the
bows, so dense was the water, were encountering
the sledge hammers of the Titans instead of the
opposing waves of an angry sea-
The party proceeded daily with their explora.
tons, making typographical sketches as they went
until they reached the southern extremity of the
sea, where the most wonderful sight that thew
had yet seen awaited them.
ain passing the mountain of Uzdom (Sodoml
we unexpectedly, and much to our owl aston.
ishment," says Lieut.. Lynch, sssaw large round
ed, turret-shaped column, facing south east,
which proved to be of solid rock salt canned
with carbonate OF lime, one mass CT crystaiza.
ton. Mr.. Dale took sketch of it, and DR.. An.
derson and landed with much difficulty and pro.
cured specimens of IT'D
The party crcumnavigated the lake, returned
to their place OF departure, and brought back
their boats in complete order as thew received
them at New York. They were all in fine
health This is specimen Of the skill system.
and discipline of the American navy. No ma
ton in the world has such service. The time
is coming when it will give proofs of that fact
palpable to the most dull understanding
Thanks to the good management OF Lieutenant
Lynch, the whole cost of this scientific explora-
ton OF the Dead Sea Except, of course, the cost
OF equipage and maintenance of the crew OF the
ship was but seven hundred dollars
From the letters of Lieutenant Lynch, quoted
by Lieutenant Maury, we transcribe the follow
ing interesting facts elected by the exploration
"The bottom OF the northern half of this sea is
almost an entire plain. Its meridonal lines at a
short distance from the shore scarce vary in
depth. The deepest soundings thus tar 1873 faith.
oms, q US teet9 Near the shore the bottom is
generally an lncrusSatlon vi salt but the inter-
mediate one is soft mud with many rectangular
crystals-mostly cubes-of pure salt At one
crystals.
"The Southern half of the sea is as shallow as
the northern one is deep,and for about one fourth
OF Its entire length the depth does not exceed
three fathoms, (l8 feet) Its southern bed has
presented no crystals, but the shores are lined
with incrustations of salt, and when we landed at
Uzdom, in the course of an hour our footnrints
We're coated with specialization.
ne opposite shores OF the peninsula and the
WEST coast present evident marks OF disruption.
"There are inquest onably birds and insects
upon the shores, and ducks are sometimes mon
the sea, for we have seen them-but cannot de.
teet any living thing within it, although the
SAT- streams hoWIng into it contain salt fish
ieel sure that the results OF this survey will fuIlv
sustain the scrptural account of the cities Of the
plain" s. , - VIC
He thus speaks of Jordan "The Jordan al.
though rapid and impetuous, is graceful in ts
winnings ana lrlnged with luxuriance, while its
waters are sweet, clear, COOL and refreshing.
After the survey OF the sea the party proceed.
ed to determine the heighth OF mountains on ito
shores, and to run level thence via Jerusalem
to the Mediterranean. They found the summit of
the west bank Of the Dead Sea more than 00o
ieet above its surface, and very nearly on level
with the Mediterranean. wv
st is curious fact, says Lieut.. Maury .,that
the distance from the top to the bottom Of the
Dead Sea should measure the heights of its hanks
the elevation of the Mediterranean, and the dit.
ference OF level between the bottom of the two
seas. and that the depth of the Dead Sea should
De also an exact multiple OF the height of Jeru-
salem above ito fF
Another not less singular fact, in the opinion of
Lieut.. Lynch, is "that the bottom of the Dead
sea forms two submerged plains, an elevated
and depressed one. The first, its southern mart.
OF Shiny mud covered by shallow bay; The last
It's northern and largest portion, Of mud and in
crustations and rectangular crystals Of sat-at
great depth, with narrow rayine running
through it corresponding with the bed Of the riv,
q JORDAN at one extremity, and the Waddy Eel
1eio, or 'wady within wady,' at the other
!, line Shiny oozes' says Lieut. Marry. "upon
mat plain at the bottom ofthe Dead Sea. will not
lsil to remind the sacred historian Of The slime
plts, IN the vale, where were Joined In battle
-FOUR kings with five.'" svovia Al y b. 18lals
3"