The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-11
A so., g,pedirIon down the Jordan.

a Boat Expedition down the Jordan.
A good desl OF attention. scientific and
Other wise, has OF late been directed TO the
Hoy Land End adjoining countries; many
interest Hg pOnIs OF geography and topo
ga by have been discussed. All ong olhe.s,
tie dtpres ion Of The Dead Sea, the level
Of which hss been asce Isined TO he more
than 1900 feet below that Of The Nj diler-
Ianesn. The Sea OF Tiberias also is reck.
oned as "a feet below the latter level; the
difference between the two Likes, which
are 90 miles apart, being more than 1000
feet. This observation, made by the presi
dent Of The Geographical Society in 1912,
his ELECTED additional remarks end sug
gestions; and DR.. Robinson, ia discussing
il, states that ia the distance rayersed by
tie rivers there is room for three cstaracts,
each equal in height 10 Niagara
Some authorities affirm that the obseIvs.
tons 10 determine The levels smust have
been incorrect; on the other hand, it has
been shown by comparison with British riv-
ers, that there is nothing extIsoIdnsry in
The presumed fall. TIE Dee is river
which mas be CHASED with the Jor6au-
from the inn Of Dee to the sea, y miles,
the fall is Is feet 10 The mile, and Ia this
dstance there are neither rapids nor cata.
rscts. In the fall Of The Tweed we have
q nearly parallel illustration. The ques-
tIon, however, has been answered for the
present in another way, sn account OF
Which sp ears ia be last published part OF
the Geographical Society's journal. -
Lisatenant Molyn ux OF the shin Spartan,
len the vessel At Csiff4 on the Bay Of Acre
towards tire en- Of August, l847, with
three sc men, who had volunteered for the
occasion and Toby. drsgoman. The OBJ
ject wss TO tran. port the Orgy (ship's
sm ,llesI boat) on camels' backs overland
10 TIberias, 10 proceed from thence down
the jordan 10 the Dad Sea. and return b,
wsy Of J-TJsalem snd Jaffa, afIer al Eek
animation Of The course OF the Jordan, a.
well as Of The valley through which il
hDSs. a ~peciaIl. to measure the depth
Of the Dead Sea- The commander OF
the vessel offered every aid, and Furnished
his lieutenant with leue from and TO the
authorities Of The co ntry, 50 as 10 facilitate
operations among the Bsdouln tribes, from
wH,n molesy ton was q be spprehend
ed.
Four csneis were provided for the bosI
and baggage. besides horses. AfIer tSo
days tr1v-lll &, The p riy 'zuive at the
top Of ths lat ridge OF hills owe looking
ths Ltk- Of Fiber a. aud the alley OF the
JJrcsn, and enjoyed a most nsgui6ceu.
view Jebel Sar,kh. smoIhered IA clouds
was distinctly seen; eiore Us were the blue
waters OF Tib riss, surrounded bs hne
ranges Of hills; % the LEFT the white nils
Of Sd ed. perched on hill; and near the
northern end Of the lake gap in the moUn.
isin>, with green patch, whirh pointed
out he spot where the Jordan discharges its
waters iutO Tiber as.
Ia descending the hills to the Iake.short
the diff -ullies began. BY degrees says
Lieutenant MolyneuV, the road became so
seep that We were obliged to hold the boat
up by ropes. oil at length we arrived az Q
proceed, and 10 return was impossible
the stones. when started, rolled TO the OF.
tom. The ,smels began to roar; then follow
ed the usual trembling Of the legs-the
&c tain precursor OF fell; and, in shon, %
save the boat, II became necessary 10 cut
the lsshings, and let her slide down on her
keel 10 tn foot OF the hiiI. There we
again hsrnsSsed the unfortunate camels, and
proceeded without further mi,hpp to II. e.
mas. where. passing under the walls OF the
town, We PIT he'd our tent within a few
ysrds Of the water
Afer crossins the lake once or twice,
and tax ng soundings and other observa.
Iioas. the boat was steered for the entrance
Of the river; and encsmpng for the night
IN the bank, the party were visited by
numbers Of Arabs, who, after some persia
hon. left them unmolested. but kept tae
in state Of apprehension during
he night, and again the next morning f,r
several miles Of The route. The true char
acter OF the stream soon became apparent,
ss the officer Telstes:-'Hitherlo, for the
short distance we had come. the river hac
been upwsrds Of 100 Fee broad and o.
feet deer; but the 6rst urning after leav.
ing the Arabs brought Us to the remains of
. large ruined bridge. the arches OF which,
having ell fallen down, obsuucted our pas
,sge. Here our difficulties commenced;
and for seven hours that we travelled that
day, We arscely ever had sufficient water
70 swim the boart for 100 yards together
The Arabs hung on the skirts OF The party,
with view Of turning any mis-.
adventure 10 account; and when villages
were passed. The whole population turned
oui 10 look at The Strangers. s metimes
he river spread out into shallow chsnnels.
In which the boa; had to be unloaded, and |
carried over the obstructing rocks and |
bushes. The Ghor, or great Valley Of
he Jordan is described as about 8 or |
miles broad; and this space is anything but |
. .fiai--nothing but continuation OF bare
hills with yellow dried-up weeds, which |
look, when distant, like cornstubbles.--
These hills. however, sink into insignifi |
canoe when compsred to the ranges al
mountains which enclose the Ghor: and Il |
y therefore, only by compsrison thar this