Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-08

overheard the only cask Of fresh wafer that they
had. They we're now compelIsdlorow for Ihcir
lives, 10 reach the Jordan before they persisted
with thirst but the sun scorche1 them from a
cloudless sky, and the air was like a furnace
When ConIigan could row no longer, bis servant
made some coffee from the water Of the lake,
and then they lay down in the boat to die. But
the man once more reused himself. aud BY ma
ny efforts brought the boat 10 the head Of the
lake. They lay helpless for a whole day on
the burning shore, unable to 10 more Than throw
the salt water over each other from time 10 time.
The next morning, the servant crawled away,
in hopes Of reaching Ribhah, which he did with
extreme difficulty. lie sent CosIigsn's horse
down 10 the shore, with a supply Of water. He
was alive, and was carried 10 Jerusalem in the
GOODNESS Of the night. fIe was taken care Of in
the Latin convent there; but he died in Two days.
Nota note relating to his. enterprise was ever
found; and during his illness he never spoke on
the subject. Any knowledge thai he might have
gained, has perished with him; and no reliable
information could be obtained from his servant.
CosIlgans grave is in the American burrying.
ground; and there ! saw the stone which tells
his melancholy story. lie died in 1885.
There appears to be no satisfactory evidence,
as 10 whether any fsh are to be found in the
Dead sea. Our guides SAID, that some small
black-hsh have been seen there; but others deny
this. A dead fish has been found on The shore,
near the spot where the Jordan enters the laks;
but this might have been castupby the overflow
of the river. Ii is SAID, that small birds do not
fly over this lake, on account Of the dselerious
nature Of its atmosphere. About small birds |
cannst speak; but | saw TWO or three vullures
winging their way down it obliquey. The Gu.
rious lights which hung over the surface, struck
me as showing an unusual state Of the amos
phere-lhe purple musky light resting on one
part, andthe line Of silyery refractlonin another
Though the sky was clear after the morning
clouds had passed away, the sunshine appeared
dim; and the heat was very oppressive. ThC
gentlemen of the party who stayed behind tC
baIhe declared, on rejoining US at lunch-Iime
that they had found the common report Of the
buoyancy Of the water of this sea, not al all ex'
aggerated, 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 sal
when dry. But they could not admit the greGsi
ness or suckiness which is said 10 adhere 10 the
skin after bathing in the Dead sea. They were
very positive about this; and they certainly die
observe the fact very carefully. Yet | have
seen since my return, a clergyman who bathet
there, and who declared to me that his skin was
so sticky for some days after, that he could no
get rid Of it, even from his hands. And the
trustworthy DR.. Robinson, late traveller there
says: "After coming out, perceived nothing o
the salt crust upon the body, Of which SO many
speak. There was slight prickling sensation
especially where the skin had been chafed; ant
sort Of greasy feeling, as Of oil, upon the ski
which lasted for several hours" The conras
Of these testimonies, and the diversity which ex
lists among the analyses of the waters which
have been made by chymists, seem to show tina
the quality of the waters of the Dead sea varies
And it appears reasonable that it should; for j
must make great difference, whether fresh wa
ters have been pouring into the basin Of the lake
after the winter rains, or great evaporation has
been going on, under the summers sun. In fol-
lowing the margin of the sea, we hadto cross {
creek, where my skirt was splashed. These
splashes turned presently TO thin crusts Of salt
and the moisture and sickness were as great ;
week allerWard as al the moment.
We wound among salt marshes and brakes
in and out on the desolate shore of this sea-
this sea which is not the less dead and drearl
for being as clear and blue as fresh mountain
tarn. As we ascended the ranges of hills whicl
lay between us and the convent where we were
TO rest, the Jordan valley opened northward, ant
the Dead sea southwarG, I'LL the extent travers
ed by the eye, was really vast. How beautiful
must it have been once, when the Jordan val
ley, whose verdure was now shrunk into bacI
line amid1he sands, and was like an intermina
BILE garden; and when the settles of the plain,
stood bright and busy, where the Dead sea noN
lay blank and gray! As | took my last loo
back, from great elevation, | thought that s
mournful landscape, for one having real beau
ty, had never seen.