Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-18
The nasd Sea

Ihls remarkable sea, On the south east
border of the Hely Land, is not named
in the New Testament and but seldom in
the Old. Ii is there called the "Salt
Sea-" the Sea Of the Palms. and the
East Sea-" and by Josephns and the
classic writers, Lake Asphalitss," from
the asphaltum which it produces.
1t is supposed to have been the site OF
Sodom and Gomorrah.
The length of the Dead Sea from north
to south is forty-ons miles, and its breadth
at the widest is nine and a half miles.
It's surface is one thousond three hun
dred and twelve feet below the level Of
the Mediterranean Sea, and nine hundred
aud eighty-fonr feet below the Lake I'll
berias, from which tbs Jordaa issues. 1t
is thus by far the deepest known assure
on the earth's surface.
1t has q vast supply Of water, a part of
which il absorbed by the earth; but a
great part Of it is cvaporated by the in
tense heat that there prevails.
Tbs sea ~ divided into tive unequal
parts by a peninsula reaching two, thirds
across from tho eastern shore.
1t lies itnbsdded betvcen lofty cliffs Of
naked limestone. its shores presenting a
scene Of indsscribable dssolation and slo.
itHdc, enconpa,sed BY desert sands and
bleak, stony and sand hills, except where
there are fresh water streams. ia which
localities the shores are iertilc. Lofty
mountains. exhibiting frishtful precipices.
rise on the eastern shore 10 tho height OF
two thousand feet. and on the west side
the rocky barriers attain a height of IF
teen hundred feet.
1t has been but little visited in modern
times by travellers, as it is held as a ter.
ror by many. Costigan, an Irish tray.
eler, spent eight daYs upon the sea, and
died, in 1885. In 1S47, Lieutenan,
Lynch, Of tha United States Nav. with
two metallic boats, spent three weeks on
the sea.
Josephus and others speak of Fruit.
which have d color IS If to be eaten, but
when plueked dissolve into smoke and
ashes" These famous "apples Of Sodom'
are found to be the osher Of the Arabs
and resemble ar orange. but when opened
are found to contain only a few shred.
and seeds.
Its waters are salt. and it has not been
proved that any animals exist in it.
The waters of this lake" says ore tray
eler, " look remarkably clear and pare
but on taking it into my mouth | feuaa
il bitter beyond anything l ever tasted,
Ny clothes were wet by the waves. and
as they dried | found them covered with
salt"
Its waters are dense and heavy O
80 than sea water. DR.. Robiasoa. thoa~h
not able to swim elsewhere, could sit,
stand or lie in this sea.
Lieutenant Lynch entered the sea when
rough, with a high wind, and snrs, /:
seemed as if the bows, so dense was the
water, was encountering the sledgc hain
mers Of the Titans, rather than the oppo
sing waves OF an angry sea"
A mountain of rock salt on its south.
west side, called the Stone Of Sosorn. pre-
serves the name Of that city, ruined with
others, as described in the Holy Scrip
lures.
Traces OF towns or ether hsildiars are
reported, on doubtful aatAe-ity. to have
ss..een seen at certain times in it. bed.
After the earthquake. II 1884 and
1887, asphaltuH, in large qnss.:aes, sAs
thrown to the surface, at the e.shetH
extremity of the sea.