Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-24
THE SEA OF GALILEE.


The Sea of Galilee, or Sea of Tiberias, or
Lake of Gennesaretb, is sheet Of water
formed by the expansion of the bed OF the
Jordan. 1t is about twelve and quarter
miles long from north to south, and at us
broadest part, six and three quarter mhes
wide from east to west. But It's WldLn is
by no means regular, its shape being that OF
pear or leg CT mutton, the
broadest part toward the north, and
the more projecting side toward the west,
the eastern shore being By comparison
straight. except near the lower end. IL Is
full of fish. Its waters, thick and muddy
at the extreme north, become clear and
bright as they approach its narrow end; Tor
the Jordan. which flows into it foul stream,
leaves the lake pure and sweet river. Inc
surface is from 600 to 700 feet below the
level of the Mediterranean. The climate is
genial in winter, and not excessively hot in
summer. With shores that rise but gently
in most parts from the basin, and whose
color is uniformly brown where seen above
the foliage at their bases, the scenery
wouId be tame were it not for the
fine bills, including the snowy tops
of Hermop, which can be seen all
roupd through the transparent
ether, and for the innIrmerable effects OF
light and shade. Shrubs and blossoms ADD
to the beauty of the coasts, which vary con-
tiuually. being sometimes backed by broad
plains, showing at others the openings OF
long gorges, and elsewhere, especially to
the north, being broken into many and
charming BAYS. Volcanic action appears TO
be energetic; there are hot springs in the
basin of the lake, and very serious earth
ouakes occur. Wild boar are TO be found
on plain 10 the northeast.
Those who have formed mental picture
of this sea, so often recurring IN sacred
historY-as who in childhood has DotT-
have no doubt imagined q water covered
with ships and boats, resounding with the
cries of sailors and fishermen, and tianked
by many proud cities rich in merchandise
and glorious to the sight. Alas for such
visions! the cities aud the men and traffic
were there, but they have disappeared so
completely that the waters of the lake
NAV be said to sleep amid solitude.
As for the famous cities, of most OF
them it cannot be said with certainty
where they were, and this survey now hrss
begins to give us some reliable data FOR
identifying their ruins. One or two remain,
but not as cities; small, dirty, ARAB villages
alone represent those busy towns, wherein
were done ssmighiy works." such as would
have overcome the sinful obdnracy OF
Tyre and Sidon. Liberals is there, on the
west coast, rather below the center OF the
lake. Its'sea-wall, broken columns, to Sers,
aoueducts, attest the glory Of its ancient
estate. but the modern Tiberias is but
a moor collection of houses, chiefly inhabit-
ed by Jews who have returned to Pale tine.
Its filth and vermin have become . pre-
verb. About four miles north Of this, a
heap of ruins, now named Mejdel. marks
the sight OF that Magdala where Mary Mag
dalene had her home. North 0fthis, again,
is the plsio OF Gennesaretb, an area Of great
beauty and fert lily, along which, sad to
saw, are several heaps of rubbish, denoting,
probably, the places of old towns and vii
iases wherein our Lord taught.