New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-06-19
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.

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kxpeoluon Philadelphia les biAnep 1'Ie -.
lNew-Yofk. sod By A. ; Barnes Co 81 Jonn-sil
IL this volume, Lieut.. Lynch presents grspmc
and lively description Of MS adventures, as chiei
Of the expedition appointed by the nited states
Government 70 explore the Dead Sea, and trace
the River Jordan 70 its source. This was com
mission involving great difficulties and danger
peri aps more than were warranted By It's antici-
pated results for the benefit OF science and hltb-
erto the curiosity and zeal which have prompted
4 lew bold spirits to similar researches have been
exercised az sacrifice out Of proportion 70 their
value. Lieut.. Lynch engaged IN the enterprise
With distinct perception Of Us Perlls and cost
but inspired by genuine enthusiasm for It's OBJ
-ots he devoted himself % its accomplishment
With an energy aud perseverance, that have over
come every obstacle, and enabled him to attain
degree Of success Of which no previous traveller
10 the same regions can boast
He sailed from New-York IN November, lsi7'
arrived at Constaniinope In the ensuing FebruA-
-. and after obtaining the protection OF the sui
tan for his iourneyiugs through the Turkish 90
mluions ia Syria, came 70 the sea Of Gaiiee ID
April The passage down the Jordan was attend
81 with the greatest peril. and less determined
spirit would have shrunk back 10 dismsy. The
progress of the light metallic boats which had
been constructed expressly for the exPe1iuoH'
xas frequently retarded by rapids cstarac's sno
whirl pools in the river at the most dangerous
falls. the channel had to be opened by removing
large stones: and 1t was only By dint Of lncredi'
bic exertons by the whole party, that The dill
cult VOYAGE was at last accomplished
"Our course down the stream with varied "A
pidty. At tmes we were going nj the rate OIL ii"in
three 10 tour knots the hour and again We "OuIo o
swept and buried away, da-hlng and winning onward
,,it the furious speed of torrent Al such moments
there was excitement for We knew not but mat tne
pext turn OF the stream would plunge us down some
fearful cataract dash on the sharp rocks mat
miaht Turk beneath the surface For the reasons nave
before stated the Fanny Mason always TOOK inc eau'
and warned the amy skinner when danger was 10 pc
summed or encountered. When the sound OF l"pn
was distinct aud near the compass and the mote DOCK
were abandoned and mOtiOniug 10 the Fanny skinner
~ check her speed, our OATS began 10 move me ,'
mtcnnae Of some giant insect 20 sweep us INTO 'ne
s,,est which ia the deepest part OF the current
when IN caught u.s. the boats crew ana our AIeh i4u
Jumach eaped into the angry stream accourco rs ly
were and cngng to her sides assisted IN gwdihs me
graceful Fanny down the p"fhous dcsceh.. III '"'s
nlanner she was whired driving between rocks ana
shadows with force that made her bend ana quFeF
ike rush in running stream; then, shooting H''
tbrourh the foam and the turmoil Of the basin below"
where in the seehng and eervescing water she spun
and t.ired the men lcaped in, aud with oars ana fud
der she brought 10 an eddying cove, whence ny
word and gesture she directed her sister amy through
the channel
The great depression between the Sea OF Gall
lee and the Dead Sea, is caused by the sngulariy
tortuous course Of the River Jordan In space OF
60 miles Of latitude and or 8 Of longitude 1t
treverses the distance of at least 200 miles. Not
less thar y dangerous rapids were encountered
by Lieut. Lynch and his party, beside great mum
Der of less consequences The snuous course OF
the Jordan is not exceeded even by that of the
Mississippi
On approaching the Dead Sea, they perceived
nauseous smells, which proceeded from small
streams on each side of the Jordan birds were
seen on the wiug-pigeons, a heron, bulbul
snipe, and many wild ducks; the river was 10
yards wide the left bank very low, covered with
tamarsk, willow and cane; the right bank 10
to Is feet high red clay, with weeds and shrubs
the nal a insana, spins Christi, and some OF the
agnus castus a few tsmarisk at the waters edge.
When it enters the sea, the Jordan is $50 yards
wide and 3 feet deep, and inclined toward the
eastern shore. 1t is represented with great ex-
actness on the map of Messrs. Robinson Smith,
which. according to Lieut.. Lynch, is superior to
any others.
The party found great difficulty in making the
entrance. A fresh north west wind was blowing
as they rounded the extreme western point; they
endeavofed to make a true west course; but the
wind rose so rapidly that the boats could not keep
head to the wind. The sea rose with the breeze,
which increased to gale, and presented rough
surface of foaming brine the spray evaporated
as il fell, and incrusted the clothes, hands and
faces with salt producing prickly sensation
wherever it touched the skin, and causing Sc
we're main to the eyes The boats struggled slug
eishy at first, but as the wind grew hercer, 1t
seemed, says Lieut.. Lynch, RS II their bows
were encountering the sledge-hammers Of the
Ttans, instead OF the opposing waves OF an angry
sea.
Al length finding that we were losing every mo
ment that with the lapse of each succeeding one
the danger increased We kept away Tor the northern
.horc in the hope OF being able yet 10 reach IL our
arms our clothes and skins coated with greasy san
and our eyes, lips and n1strils smarung excessively -
How different the scene before the sunmtr-lhs ol
the plain which even A. the garden II the Lofd
AZ unes IL seemed II the Dread Almighty iro"ned
upon our efforts TO navigate sea the cTeSuoh OF h''
wrath. There is tradition among the Araos thH' no
one can venture upon this and 1--we Repeatedly the
f,es of Costgan aud NOyneauN had been cited 20 DC
ter US The rst one spent few days, the last about
twenty hours. and retained 10 the place whence
he had embarked without landing upon It's shores
one was found dying upon the shore the otheI eN
pired in November last Immediately after his return
of fever contracted upon its waters. But although
the sea had assumed n thrcateLlug aspect ana the
fret,ed mountains sharp ana Moderated doomed Ter
rbc on either side and salt and ashes mingled VITA rs
sands and fetd sulpnurous streams, ckled down us
ravines we did not pair struck but not terri
hed-f airing the worst, YET hoping for the best-we
prepared TO spend dreary night upon the drcaresi
| waste We had ever seen
In less than half an hour however the wind
absted instAntaneously; the sea fell as rapidly as
il had risen; and instead Of bearing away from q
sea which threatened to eoguli them, the party
were gliding st rapid rate over placid sheet OF
water that scarcely rippled beneath them; aud
a rain cloud which had enveloped the sterile
mountains of the Arabian shore, lifted up. and
left their rugged outlines baskisg IN the light Of
the setting sun.
The next day they made an excursion along the
base Of the mountain, where they gathered sPeoi-
mems Of conslomerAte and some freshwater shells
| in the bed Of the stream. The shore wss covered
with small angular fragments Of flint but there
were 10 round stones or pebbles on IL Two par
triaSes OF a beautiful stone color were started up