The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-10-13
The Dead Sea Expedition,

The September number Of the Southern
Literary Messenger contains an article Of
much interest on this subject from the pen
Of Lieut.. /. NJ. Maury. This article the
Richmond Republican condensed, and we
make below, extracts from the-samc:
After stating some few particulars as 10
the getting up Of the expedition, the Rrpub-
hran informs its readers that tie Supply
store ship was detailed 10 cary cut stores
To the Mediterranean Squadron. and Lieut.
Lynch aud his party to the purt Of Acre IN
Syria. where they di,cmbarhrd. Twomc.
ta,lic boats were provided iorthc rarty, and
the boats were called Fanny Mason and
Fanny Skinner. The paper then goes on
to say:
On their arrival at their destination THEN
troubles bcg,u, and in their march to Lake
libcria>, their boats had to be transported
over the most formidable mountain corgc>
and heights, and to be lowered down precl-
pieces with ropes. Butthc>c difficulties were
SurmouuicI with tine sailor skill and per-
severance, and On the 9Th Of April the two
EauuicS, each with the American ensign
flying, were upon the beautiful blue waters
Of the sea of Galilcc. "Emblematic of it,
Master, it alone Of all things around them,
remained the same. Ju>t a> the Apostles
saw it when our Savior said tu il, peace.
be- >tilI,' this little band OF roverS now be-
/ held it."
/ The navigation Of the jordan was found
TO be most difficult and dangerous, from the
frequent and fearful rapids. Lieut.. Lynch
solves the secret rf the depression Of Lake
liberals aud the Dead Sea. by the tortuou>
course of the Jordan, which, in distance
of seven miles winds through a course ui
two hundred miles. Within this distance
Licut. Lynch and his party plugged down
no less than twenty threatening rap
ids, besides many others Of less descent,
The difference Of level between the tive
seas is over a thousand feet.
The water Of the Jordan was sweet "a
within few hundred yards uf It, mouth
The waters Of the sea were devoid of smell
bat bitter, salt and nauseouS. Upon enter.
ing II, the boats were encountered hya gale
aud lit seemed aS if the bows, so dense wa,
the water, were cucOnntcIiug the Slcdg,
hammers OF the TitanS, Instead of the op.
posing waves Of the angry Sea.'
The patty proceeded daily with their ex.
p'orailon, making Typographical sketches n.
they went, until they reached the southern
extremity Of the sea, where the most won
dcrfnl sight they had yet seen awaitc(
them.
sin passing the mountain of Uzdon Sod
om) we unexpectedly, much 10 our aston
iShmeut,h says Lieut.. Lynch, ">aw a larg,
rounded, turrrt- shaped column, facing south
cast, which proved 10 be or solid rock salt
capped with carbonate of lime. one mass u
Disqualification. Mr., Dale took sketch o
H.. aud Mr.. Anderson and landed witt
much difficulty, and procured specimen
from IT,
The party circumuavlgatCd the lake, re
turned to their place ol departure, aud bro
hack their boats in rs complete order n
they received them at New York. The,
were allin fine health. This is n specimen
Of the skin, system and discipline of III,
American navy. No nation in the worl,
has such service. The time is comm!
when it will give proofs oI that fact palpa
hlr to the most duh understanding.
Thank 10 the good management ol Lieut.
Lynch. the whole cost of this scientific cx
Iploration orthe Dead Sea Except, of course
the cos, If cQuipacc aud maintenance of tn
crew Of the ship was but seven huudre'
dollars.
From the letters Of Lieut.. Lynch, quote,