3 ^^'- 



On the Formation of the Dead Sea, 



we have travelled over and investigated the whole world, which, 

 even at the present day, is far from having been performed. 

 Yet, as far as our information extends, and arguing from what 

 we certainly know of the world of Flora, the existence of local 

 plants, far from being impossible, is, humanly speaking, almost 

 positively determined. Whether or not any plants formerly 

 known are now lost and destroyed, it is not my intention 

 either to confirm or refute. Yet many which are mentioned 

 in the writings of the Greek or Roman naturalists are not 

 identified with any at present described. But we can form no 

 positive opinion from this, since we are well aware of their 

 imperfect and superficial mode of examination, and how very 

 little reliance can be placed on their authority in doubtful cases. 

 And now, in conclusion, I shall be expected to state what 

 hypothesis appears to me the most rational, and to account 

 most satisfactorily for the universal distribution of plants. 

 I cannot, as I have before stated, agree with the opinion 

 of Linnaeus, who supposes them to have emigrated from one 

 original locality ; as this theory, however probable it might 

 appear at the time of its promulgation, is altogether repug- 

 nant to our knowledge of nature, and the present state of the 

 science. Nor, in the second place, can I embrace the opi- 

 nion of those who suppose that vegetation migrated from pri- 

 mitive centres situate in various parts of the world, and 

 containing plants exclusively belonging to them. It appears 

 to me that the dispersion of plants depends upon several 

 causes, influenced not only by temperature and climate, but 

 in a still greater degree by the composition of the soil, and 

 geological structure of the country ; in fine, that vegetation is 

 the joint produce of soil, temperature, and particular compo- 

 sition of the surface of the earth. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Jtichmond^ Yorkshire, Dec, 3. 1830. J. E. L. 



Art. VIII. Remarks on the Formation of the Dead Sea, and the 

 surrounding District. By J. W. Draper, Esq., and W. M. 

 HiGGiNs, Esq. F.G.S. 



From the authority of Scripture (Genesis, xiv. 3.)» and 

 traditional evidence, no one will deny that the present Dead 

 Sea was once the well-watered and fertile Plain of Jordan, 

 in which Lot resided when the five cities were overwhelmed ; 

 and that this lake had no existence previously to that cata- 

 strophe. We have also evidence from the ancient lavas, 

 pumice, and volcanic productions, that the eruption of a vol- 



