The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-10-07
Miscellaneous,
The Dead Sea Expedition.

found interest on this subject, from the pen
of Lieut.. +. NJ. Moury. From this article we
condense the folowing:-
The "SuppIy" store-ship was detailed to
cnrry out stores to the Mediterranean Squad-
ron, and Lieut.. Lynch and his party to the !
mort of Acre in Syria, where they disenlburk-
ed Two metallic boats were provided for
the party, and the boats were called Fanny |
Mason aud skinner
On their arrival Mt their destination their
troubles began, and in their march TO Lake |
Liberals, their boats had to he transported
over the most formidable mountain gorges
and heights, and TO be lowered down the pre-
cpices with ropes. But these difficulties |
were surmounted with true sailor like skill
aud perseverance, and on the 9Th of April
the two Fannies, each with the American en-
sign flying, were upon the beautiful waters
of the sea of Gnlilee. Emblcmatical of
its Master, it alone, of all things around
them, remained the same. Just as the Apos-
ties saw it when our Savior said to il Peace,
he STILL this little band of rovcrs now beheId
it,"
The navigation of the Jordan WINS found
TO he most difficult and dangerous, from its
frequent and fearful rapids. Lieut.. Lynch
solves the secret of the depression between
Lake Tiberas and the Dead Sea by the tor
tuous course of the Jordan, which, in dis
lance of sixty miles, winds through course
-oftwo hundred miles. Within this distance
Lieut. Lynch and his party plunged down
no less than lwenty-seven fearful rapids; he
sides many others Of less descent. The diff
ference oflevel between the two seas is over
thousand feet,
The water of the Jordan was sweet TO
within few hundred yards Of lis mouth.
The waters of the sea were devoid of smell,
hut bitter, salt and nauseous. Upon entering
IT. the boats were encountered by gale and
1t seemed rs If tE'e bows, so dense was the
water were encoGnIcring the sledge ham
mers OF the Titans instead of the opposing
7Vaves of an angry sea-" 10y
The party proceeded daily with their ex-
piorallon making Typographical sketches as
they went, until they reached the southern
extremity OF the sea, where the most wonder
All sight they had yea seen awaited them.
. In passing the mountain of Uzdom (Sod-
'om1 we unexpectedly, aud Guch to our MS
Punishment" says Leur. Lynch, "saw II
large rounded. turret-shnpCd column, facing
southeast, which proved to be solid rock salt
capped with Carbonate of lime one mass of
chrystaZaiion. Mr.. Dale took u sketch Of
il, aud DR.. Anderson and landed with much
difficulty and procured specimens from it,"
The party Crcumnavgatrd the lake, re-
turned to their plucc of departure, and
brought back their boats in as complete or
der us they received them at New York.
They were all in fine health. This is spc-
cimen Of the skill, system and dicipline of
the American navy. No nation IN the world
has such service. The time is coming
when it will give proofs of that fact palpa-
bic to the most dull understanding.
Thanks to the good management of Lieut..
Lynch, the whole cost of this scientific eXplo-
ration of the Dead Sea Except, of course,
the cost of the equpage and maintenance of
the crew Of the shipl was bu, seven hundred
dollars.
From the letters of Lieut. Lynch, quoted
by Lieut. Maury, we transcrihe the following
Interesting facts elected by the exploration:
"The bottom of the northern part of this
sea is almost an entire plain. Its ueridional
lines at n short distance from the shore scarce
vary in depth. The deepest soundings thus
far, 1873 fathoms 1l28 feet) Near the shore
the bottom is generally an incrustation of
salt, but the Intermediate one is soft mud
with rectangular crystals-mostly cubes-of
pure salt. At one time Stellwager's lead
brought up nothing but crystals.
The southern half of the sea is as shallow
ms the northern one is deep, and for about
,one-fourth its entire length tie depth does
not exceed three fathoms rs fect( Its south
ern bed has presented no crystals. but the
shores are lined with incrustatons of salt,
and when we landed at Uzdorn, in the space
crystazation.
The opposite shores of the peninsula and
the west coast present evident marks of dis
ruption.
There are unquestionably birds and insects
upon the shores, and ducks are sometimes
upon the sea, for we have seen them-but
cannot detect any living thing within it al
though the salt streams flowing into il con-
tain salt fish. ] feel sure that the results of
this survey will fully sustain the scripturul
account ofthe cities Of the plain"
lie thus speaks of Jordan =" The Jordan
although rapid and impetuous, is graceful in
JUS winnings, and fringed with lux,,riance,
while It's waters are sweet, clear, cool and re-
fresbiDg" .. =. I'M
After the survey of the sea- the party pro-
yceeded to determine the height ola mountain
on its shores, and to run level thence via
Jerusalem 10 the Mediterranean. They
found the summit of the west bank of the
Dead Sea more than 1000 feet above its sur
face, and very nearly on level with the
Mediterranean. ... .. .....
" 1t is a curious fact" says Lieut.. Maury;
"that the distance from the top to the bottom
of the Dead Sea should measure the height
gifts banks, the elevation of the Mediterrn-
mean and the difference ofievel between the
bottom ofthe two seas, and that the depth of
the Dead Sea should be also an exact multi
pie of the height of Jerusalem above it,"
Another rot less singular fact, in the opin-
ION of Lieut.. Lynch, is " that the bottom of
the Dead Sea forms two submerged plains.
an elevated and u depressed one. The first
Its southern part, ofsimy mud, covered by
SHALLOW bay the last, its northern and larg-
est portion, of mud aud inerustations and
rectangular crystals of salt--at a great depth
win narrow rnvine running through il,