The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-08-06
miscellaneous.
so
F2AAI SEA OF (s.AE.kk.EE.


The Sea Of Galilec, or Sea OF
IlbcrlaS, or Lake Of GcncSuroLh
Is y sheet Of water formed bv the
expansion ofthe bed Of the Jordan.
1t is about twelve and quarter
miles from north to south, and ut
: its broadcast part, six and three.
, quarter miles from east to west. -.
But its width is by no means reg.
ular, it's shape being that Of Il pear
or II leg Of mutton, the broadcast
part toward tho north, and the
more projecting sides toward the
west, tho eastern shore being by
comparison straight, except near
the lower ond. 1t is full Of fish.
It's waters, thick and muddy ut
the extreme north, become clear
and bright rs they approach it's
narrow end for the Jordan, which
flows into it Il foul stream, leaves
the lallo pure and sweet river.
The surface is from 600 to 700 feet
below the level Of the McdiLer-
rancon. Tho climate is genial in
the winter, and not excessively
hot in SUMMER. With shores that
rise but gcntly.in most parts from
the basin, and whose color is uni.
form j. brown where seen above
tho foliage ut their bases, the
scenery would be tame were it not
for tho fine hills; including the
snowy tops Of lIermon, which can
be seen all around through tho
transparent ether, and for tho
innumcrablo effects Of light and
shade. ShrUEs and blossoms add
to the beauty Of the coasts, which
vary continually, being sometimes
backed by broad plains, showing
at othcrs the openings Of long gor-
gcs, and elsewhere, especially to
the north, being broken into many
and charming bays. Volcanic ac-
ton appears to be energetic; thcro
arc hot springs in the basin Of the
lake, and very serious earthquake cs
often occur. Wild boar arc TO be
found on plain to the northeast.
Those who have formed men
Sal picture Of tho sea, SO often re.
curing in sacred history-as who
IN childhood have not ?-havo, no
doubt, imagined II water covered
with ships and boats, rcsounding
with tho cries Of sailors and fish,
crmcn, and flanl1od by many proud
cities rich in merchandise and glo
rious to the sight. Alas for such
visions tho cities and tho mon
and traffic wcro there, but they
havc disappeared so completely
that the waters Of tho lalto may
be said 70 sleep amid solitude
AS for the famous cities, Of most
Of thom it cannot be said with Ger
tainty whore they were, and this
survey now first begins to give us
somo reliable data for identifying
thoir ruins. One or two romain,
but not as cities; small, dirty Arab
villages alone represent tn S C
busy towns, wherein were done
"mighty works." such as would
have overcome the sinful obduracy
of Tyre and Sidon. Tiberias is
there, on the west coast, rathor
below the centre Of tho lake. It's
sca-wall. broken columns, towers,
aqueducts, attest the glory Of It's
ancient estate; but tho modern
Tibcrias is but poor collection of
houses, chiefly. Inhabited by Jows
who have rcturnod to Palestine.
Its filth and vcrmin havo become
q provcrb. About four miles north
OF this, a heap Of ruins, now named
Mcidel, marks tho sight Of that
Magdala whore Mary Magdalcnc
had her homo. North of this.
again, is tho plain of GcncsarcLh,
an area Of great beauty and fortiIi-
ty, along which, sad to say, arc
several heaps Of rubbish, dcnoting,
probably, tho place Of old towns
and villages wherein our Lord
taught.