The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-18
The Dead Sea Expedition.
L. Mau 4


since my letter nothing particular has occurred
the Americans who form the exploring expedition sent
by the United States to visit the Dead Sea. Several
travellers arrived from Bethhagls have met the expe-
dition and say that they have already begun their
researches ON the Sea-. Captain Lynch accompanied
by fifteen persons, the most Of whom were sailors left
the shin supply at st. Jean dAcre, on their way to
the Ie Of Tiberiade The captain was received with
perfect kindness by the officers of government Of st.
Jean dAcre by whom he was supplied In very kind
whom they fur nished guides to reach In safety his
destination. The only difficulty Captain Lynch met
destinated to navigate the Dead Sea. He obliged
to have two carts, of peculiar form built to which
were harnessed cames because the Syrian horses we're
not strong enough to cross the Desert In this state
Of things the expedition left the city for Tiberiade
where Captain Lynch and his companions arrived
safely. enjoying very good health.
After having travelled around the Lake of Tiberisde
(Genessreth), the expedition went towards the coun-
scs a's ana this mode Of travelling would have been
impossible If the boats had not been made of metal
Along the river the expedition was accompanied by
and who without claiming any remuneration from the
Americans, rendered to them services which made
nomade tribes of the Desert Captain Lynch and his
companions speak in the most fatterng terms Of the
officers governing the different places through which
they travelled They were treated by them in the
kindest manner, and provided with, even more than
necessary, all things which could be useful to them.
BY the last accounts, Captain Lynch being album,
provisions, had already begun navigation on the
Dead Sea- which had never been undertaken by any
body, and the results of which will undoubtedly be
very interesting to the scientific world.
The supply" having landed at Jafa, have had the
pleasure Of seeing several Of Captain Lynchs officers,
who had taken this occasion for visiting Jerusalem
They departed yesterday, returning to Jaffa.
numerous body Of pilgrims are encamped at Beth
hsgla, the banks of the Jordan, bathing themselves
in the blessed waters Of that river amidst which the
Saviour received baptism Men, women, children, old
men, every body arrives in haste from every part Of the
go 49, ~,z ,Iaz-
The Jordan, named Charia by the inhabitants, has
its in small lake situated at the foot of Mount
FL Cheik, in the Lban. 1t passes first through the
lakeof Tiberade, the waters OF which are sweet and
full Of fish; then crossing the great valley OF ElHcou
IL runs into the Aspbaltic Lake the Dead Sea- Its
total length about 1876 miles The Dead Is about
60 miles long, and or IL wide. Its shores and its
constantly covered with bitumen which rises
from the bottom and which Is the object of great
commercial business for the neighbourng people.
The waters Of the Dead Sea charged with salts and
extremely bitter From this fact the belief that
they motoness and fatal to the unfortunate who
by chance fell into them Neither fish, shells nor
mollusques found in its waters thence has
named Dead Sea- The sulphuric emanation which
arises from IL kills the birds which fly its surface
The specific weight of its waters Is about nth hea
vier than than that Of distilled waters This has
caused people ~ say that could walk over IL WIN
out going in above the ankle The fact sexaggerated
but Is certain that upon these waters heavier than
any other, float bodies which would sink In otners
The waters clear that may see very distinct
w. al certain deptb walls houses, ruins, which did
belong undoubtedly TO those unfortunate cities burn
ed, as say the holy Scriptures by nre from heaven
a. punishment for the crimes of thor Inhabitants
Those cities bore the names OF Sodom romorrha
Adawa SeboIm and Segor, aud were rich and tou-
risbipe The general opinion is that the Dead Sea Is
the crater Of volcano, In which the cities condemned
nv the Almighty were buried. The Arabs call that
sea I" Bahz.etLoud,' lSea Of Lott Adieu D. ~