The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-06


Following in his iou rneying with the
work of Genesis, THO pastor OF the
Delaware Avenue Church observed the
general appearance OK the Dead Sen
and ite SURF 10 desolute and
dreary. especially in its southern dis
triot and yet by not few travellers
and Imaginary DISORDERS, tile picture
has been overdrawn. The water Ia
pleasant to the sight, though 30 often
sive to the taste. On quarter OF it's
weight 10 matter In solution. OF which
nearly q third Is com mon salt nearly
two thirds chloride on magnesium. and
about one-slxth murihte of lime. 1t Is
| easy to believe that ih this neighbor-
hood the lingering wife OF Lot could
have been sufrocated and then quickly
go incrusted as to be "a pillar OF suit"
IL IL o mistake to suppose this to be
| the safest body of water in the world.
Both the lakes Elton and Urumia con.
tain larger proport on OF salty mat.
ter; the former, In thb steppes east OF
the Volgu. holding "a per cent, while
the Dead Sea has but 26l4 per cent. at
| the IN ost.
The ''Red Sea" near Perekop in the
| Crimea contains 3T-22 per cent. OF
| solids principally saline. frequently
we stumble upon Jumps OF asphaltum
I
upon the shore, but semi liquid upon
the water. have seen large bitumen
| pits in Aesyria, and upon the Tigrls
have rode In boats that were made OF
wicker-work, and then covered with q
mixture OF bitumen and tar. The
preparation renders impervlous to
water, and was used with the papyrus,
ark or coffin. In which the infant
Moses (perhaps Egyptian Mesu. som
was placed. 1t has teen noticed also.
and suggestively too. that the strait.
fed mari upon the top OF Usdum cor.
responds with the adjacent deposits.
and that there ME some fresh water
shells along the shore OF the sea. The
latter.i 1t lie true, are like those upon the
Jordan banks, but the presumption
In favor OF their transportation 10
less than OF n formerfresh water lake.
The southern quarter of the sea is a
very shallow lagoon, forbade across
its northern limit. and almost divided
on by the peninsula Of Lessan, reach
ing out from the eastern coast.
II the salt alone could be removed
from the sea. the surface would fall
one-tenth the volume OF water, or
from 10 to 10 feet, and this lagoon
would be uncovered, and. being again
far better watered from the surround.
Inn southern wadys than the upper
district between Jericho and Nebo, DO a.
very fertile plain. Scripture tells us
that this, or portion OF IL, which was
probably tho Vale of Slddlm, contain
ed Slime pits" OF rather wells. such
ae we shall meet at HasbeiJa. These
were probably worked for mortar. as
at the city and tower of Babel, and as,
an article of export for embalmihgI
purposes in Egypt. The lecturer then
led his audience into southern Philis-
tia. and thence to the Cave of of Mach.
felah. All the scripture details Of
the purchase of this resting place of
Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Re-
bekah, Jacob and. Leah, are true to
Oriental custom.
Speaking OF the ordinary native con-
versation, he said: 1--WE are reminded
every day that the language of Oriental
courtesy Is very profllse with compll-
mentary terms and religious refer
ences" To western ears 1t sounds
very profane and blaaphemous. 1t is
well that the ordinary traveller Is en-
tirely unacqualnted with Arabic, Tur-
kish and Persian. for thus he escapes
an almost incredible amount OF pro-
family and obscenity. The half hour
lecture next Sunday afternoon ut $50
promptly. will illustrate Rebekah's
courtship and betrottIal, and other do
nestle customs. No condensed report
can do justice TO these instructive leo
lures.