The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-18
BiTHING IN FdmOCs WfTTRs
Ahe Vale OF GiIgni-A Lake In which One Can
Neither stink swim.

The Jordan is about the color OF now
slntr-a slHt" with the grecnish-gray cloud still
covering its surface, Its waters are Opaque,
thickoned with clay. hut delicious in Temporal
turo. and very refreshing 10 n pilgrims palate.
l. il wonder that the river PUSHES like mill
raccf From its source to te mouth, 1880 miles
IN n brv Inc, II drs,rnd5 5000 feet. Its very
nanc Yardcn." in Hebrew signifies descent.
II twists and turns until it has trebIed the
in ils might and covers the plains. and drives
back the flocks and herds that feed along its
hanks. You cannot bridge il often you can
We got out Of our clothes. and with the fresh
mir OF the morning blowing upon US we passed.
into the cleansing food. There was lifc in
every drop of IT, There can be no doubt about
II as II tonic the Jordan Is unrvaed. While
We wadod cautiously near the shore, sitting
down in the clay bottom to gct IA much of the
wat'r with as little of the current as possible.
We were startled by crashing Of undcrbrush
and q thunder Of feet Quito the bush emerged
the Russian pilgrims in the Widest excitement.
Each stroNc to be the first To- plunge into the
stream. Many NJ them were already half naked.
and they speedily stripped. put on long. white
garmcnt-a kind of shruud in which II Is their
wish 70 be buricd-and having immersed them
selves ia the Jordan. they took on the STROUD.
rolled 1t carefully up, and having placed 1t in
their luggage, returned quite naked to pass "a
half hour in the river.
Mu n Of the way we followed the Jordan bank
and were sheltered sonnet hatby the foliage that
iringcs il. All this time. Il Ough We could have
leapcd into the stream WITH hop. skip. and u
jump. We caught only occasional glimrscs of
the river MS IL rushed like u mill race between
its steep clay walls buried out of sight in luNu-
rlOus groves Oi willow. Until we were actually
un9n the shore OF the sea. ploughing through
vain toward the valley Of death eager 10 catch
. glimpse oi liz bitter waters. Our trail wound
cactus. aud tlmarsk. We trottcd over the
baked soil in Indian file, thinking Of the wild
hOars. wolves. lnckas. and leopards that prowl
IN the vale OF GilSal-tl!e vale that was Of old
compared TO the Garden Of the Lord" W.
saw nothing. not oven yulture. though no
panorama Of the Doad Sen is complete without
shadow Of his wings darkcning the canvas
Out oi the splendid distance, over the Salt Sea.
the Sea OF Asphalt the Lake Of Iot-,all il bv
what name you will. for II bears all thcsp-oVer
the Eastern Sea of the old prophets. stole the
whitening breath OF furnace. Our horses
shelter near the shore. for our camp trappings
lad already gone up into the wilderness.
W. asked now, and IN ten minutes we stood
upon the sand half blinded with the heat and
glar" That nearly ovrrcamc us before were safely
out 81 II; The sea near the plain OF the Jor-
dan is shallow Looking toward the south. the
Six and forty miles Of sky blue crystal thlrtrnn
hundred feet IN depth. the topmO-t wave OF
which Il thirteen hundred feet below the level
Of the Mediterranean. Neither fish, shells. nor
The shore, the wrecks of the Jordan. Tho bitter
oh-n il hardly worthy OF the name OF water
stIahsl's .NeryihlhE 70 ueatl' ana then spits ~
water fall into the Dead Sea daily; six million
tons rise out Of t.sprtualized. and float over IT.
W hen We passed into the water We felt the
weight Of 1t before we had got knee deep. Soon
we grew buoyant, and kept our balance with
some ficuhy. II was like trying to swim on
corks that won't Keep their places. few steps
further and over We went. heels up and. to our
surprise. heads up. likewise. The bath was
certainly most refreshing. uud tho novelty Of
4 not unlike good naturcd practical Joke.
When least suspicious over w" went on all
tours. hobbng Ike bladiers. and finding it *
ir"lnely difficult 60 make much hendway
through the almost solid waters. The Dead sea-
does ipr n chang, Of medicine; II is ms bitter as
eull; Tut would ~ soon IL nj. OF swimming in
a - ing solution of feather icd- when We
had un'r more goi into our elothrs and struck
out for the wilderness. our skin burnt Ike fire
and We shed fax 8 ~ salt in such profuSion you
might have easily mistaken Us Tor members Of
tlic Lot family.