The Benson signal., 1915-10-23

R RECENTLY spent a week upon the
Dead sea, that historic but little
known sheet of water in Palestine,
in motor boat, writes Harold J.
Shepstone in the Culver. Start.
Ing at the northern end of the sea,
we skirted along the western shore,
visiting Engedi, Masada, the great
salt cave at Jebel Usdum, explored
the wonderful gorges, and tramped
over the delightful little fertile oases
that dot it's banks, and then up the
eastern shore to our starting point.
The Dead sea is some forty-seven
miles long and about ten miles wide
at it's greatest breadth. Curiously
enough, it lies no less than 1900 feet
below the level of the Mediterranean.
Many ridiculous stories are told about
this sheet of water, even in Palestine
itself. For instance, people will tell
you in Jerusalem that it is impossible
to swim in its waters, and that no
animals or vegetables. can exist near
It's shores. While it is true that fish
cannot live in the lake, birds may fire.
quently be seen, in certain places,
flying over its surface.
AS for swimming, the excessive
buoyancy of the water merely renders
1t difficult to make much headway,
but swimming is both feasible and
refreshing. Among the party on our
vessel there were several who could
not swim, yet in the evening they
often ventured into the water and
fioated on their backs. What one has
to be careful about is not to get
the water into the eyes.
Sea Increasing in Size.
1t has generally been believed that
this famous inland sea is decreasing
in size, but the reverse is the case.
Some twenty years ago there was a
small island about half mile from
the north shore. This has now entire
ly disappeared; whilst on the west,
east, and south shores evidences of
the encroachment of the waters upon
the land were noticeable in the pres
ence of partially submerged forests
of large trees still standing in the
death-dealing waters.
In circumnavigating the lake four
or five very fertile little plains, abun-
dantly well watered, and capable of un-
told development, were discovered.
They are SO hot and so we'll watered
that as soon as one crop is harvested
another can be put in, it not being
necessary to wait for seasons or sun
shine. The choicest grapes and other
fruit can be gathered several times
a year. A harvest of millet can be
gathered in two or three months at
almost any period of the year.
Sailing from the northern end of
the lake, Engedi, on the west side,
was our first stopping place. This must
have been little paradise in the time
OF Solomon, and is frequently men
toned in the Old Testament. The
goat, ibex) evidently was given to it
because these creatures came here
for the water. The cliffs rise to a
height of 1000 feet, and the crags, no
doubt, afforded a natural home for
them.
Fortress Of Masada.
About ten miles south of Engedi
is the peerless natural fortress of
Masada (Sebbeh), first fortified by
the Maccabees, then used as a place
of refuge by Herod, and finally i'm
mortalized by the flight thither and
stand made by the Sicarii, or Zealots
when the country was subjugated
by Titus-in the vain hope of escap-
ing ensIavement by the Romans.
The fortress, which is 1,7OO feet
above the sea, has steep sides at an
angle of about Is degrees, and cannot
De approached except from a connect
ing neck. called the Serpentine, at
the southwestern angle. 1t was at
this point that the besiegers concen-
trated their forces. A more inhos-
ice n U1