The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-09
Vol. VI.


of transporting them entire, if practicable,
boat carriages were provided, with, as
was supposed, the requisite harness for
horses. In other respects the expedition
was admirably arranged. Its safety and
success were assured by every provision
that an intelligent and prudent circum-
spection and prescience could suggest.
The crew consisted of ten picked men,
"young, muscular, native born Ameri-
cans" pledged to total abstinence from in
toxicating liquors TO their sober habits
the commander ascribes the hardihood
which sustained them under "severe pri-
vations and great exposure" The Sec
ond in command was Lieut.. Dale, truly
"a skillful draughtsman," as his map Of
the river Jordan and of the Dead Sea, and
his various sketches and drawings Of the
naval scenes and objects viewed in those
comparatively unknown, regions prove.
As an explorer, he possessed other erni-
nent qualifications, having acquired ex-
tensive experience while serving with Capt
Wilkes in the Antarctic expedition, and
being scientific and practical engineer,
in which capacity he was attached to the
coast survey, and afterwards acted in
Florida. His premature death, at the age
of 35, was greatly deplored, not only be-
cause his contributions to the report under
consideration might have secured a more
satisfactory exposition of the results ofthe
expedition, but by the navy Of which he
was the ornament and pride, to whose
officers he was especially endeared by his
admirable social qualities and accomplish
ments, and generally by the country which
has need OF his services. Midshipman
Aulick was also attached to the expedition,
and Mr.. F. Lynch, son of the COM
mander, to whom was assigned the her.
barium. So that at its embarkation, the
party consisted Of Ia persons. But it was
subsequently increased to II, Mr.. Bedlow
having joined it as a volunteer at Constan-
tinople and DIR. Anderson at Beirut, where
also the commander employed as inter-
prefer. Mr.. Ameuny. native Syrian, in
telligent and accomplished, whose educa-
ton was perfected at King IS college, Lon
don.
Tie expedition disembarked in the bay
of Acre, un Ter Mount Carmel, March 28th
1848, and formed an encampment on the
beach. Preparatory to crossing the des-
ert, the boats were mounted on the trucks,
and laden with the stores and luggage.
The harness proved too large for the small
Syrian horses; but to obviate this difficulty
would have been work Of supereroga-
ton; for the animals, not having been
trained to the operation of pulling, abso-
lutey refused to draw. In this dilemma
the commander, fertile in expedients. re-
solved on trying camels. The experiment
succeeded, to the amazcment of the Arabs,
who had never before seen the camel ap-
piled to any other use than that of carry
inc burdens on his back Three camels
we're found capable of drawing each truck
with perfect ease. OF further preparation,
there only remained to make provision
against hostile attack from rowing parties
of Arabs; and this was effected by a judi
cious enlargement Of force, in the addl-
ton of Bedouin sheik named Akil' with
ten wel-armed followers The influence
of Sheriff Hazza. Of Mecca, an Arab no.
beman, much venerated by his race, "the
thirty-third lineal descendant of the pro-
phet," would also it was thought, avail to
their security. He was accordingly in
duccd to join the party. Thus reinforced,
the expedition numbered thirty one; and
when arranged in order of march the
boats deco ated with flags, and drawn by
camels, the Arabs in their native garb.
bearing long tuHed spears, and superbly
mounted, our own gallant lars sustaining
well their somewhat unnatural transfor-
nation into miniature squadron OF cav
airy, it was not inaptly likened by its proud
commander to triumphal procession. .
They left the coast on the 4th of April,
traversed the desert in safety. and sue
ceeded in launching their boats in the sea
of Galilee-the first vessel OF any size,
and indeed the only vessels, with the ex-
ception OF solitary little boat which com
mander Lynch purchased for thirty dol
lars to assist in carrying the baggage, that
had disturbed the waters since the time OF
Josephus and the Romans. On the 10th
of April the party embarked, and pushed
off from the shelving beach for the outlet
Of the river Jordan. Here commenced
the observations and discoveries which
abundantly crowned the labors Of the ex-
plorers. ,
The investigations Of science claimed
to have established the fact of differ
ence Of 984 feet between the levels of the
lake of Tiberias and the Dead Sea. Our
learned countryman, Dr., Robinson, doubt
ed the accuracy Of this estimate, because
the distance between the two lakes being
only so geographical miles, the average
fall of the river would be 1854 feet per mile.
"But, the Jordon, so, far as known, has
neither cataracts nor rapids, and its flow,
though swift, is silent. Yet, Of the 984
feet Of its descentin Typographical miles,
there is room for three cataracts, each
equal in descent to Niagara, and there