1848.] DESCENT OP THE RIVER. 489 



"passed over right against Jericho."* Elijah performed a 

 similar miracle just before he ascended to heaven in the cha- 

 riot of fire, and, in company with Elisha, "went over on dry 

 ground ;" so, too, the latter, after the departure of his friend, 

 with the mantle that fell from him, smote the waters, and 

 "they parted hither and thither."! In later times, it has 

 been celebrated as the sacred stream in which Jesus Christ 

 received the rite of baptism from John the Baptist ; and in 

 commemoration of this event, at the Easter season, thousands 

 of devotees, usually pilgrims to the Holy City, from every 

 nation and clime in Christendom, repair to El Meshra'a, 

 where it is said to have taken place, to bathe in the river 

 on the anniversary, and " cleanse them from all unrighteous- 

 ness."! 



(4.) After encountering and overcoming almost insuperable 

 difficulties, the metallic boats transported by the American 

 Exploring party overland from Acre, were finally launched 

 upon the waters of the Sea of Galilee on the 8th of April. 

 A third boat — said to be the only one on the lake — was pur- 

 chased at Tiberias — in order to carry some of the lighter 

 baggage, and the tents, after the arrival of the party at the 

 Dead Sea. As the waters of the river were now subsiding, 

 on the receipt of the firman, or buyuruldi, of the Pasha of 

 Jerusalem, addressed to " the Sheikhs and elders of the Arabs 

 and keepers of the highways," requiring them to give assist- 

 ance and protection, if necessary, to Lieutenant Lynch and 

 his command, immediate preparations were made for the 

 descent of the river. On the 10th instant, they left Tibe- 

 rias, — Lieutenant Dale, with the Arabian Escort, and the 

 scientific gentlemen who accompanied the Expedition as 

 amateurs, following the right bank of the stream, and taking 

 with him the loaded camels, — and Lieutenant Lynch accom- 

 panying the boats. 



* Joshua, iii, ]G. t H. Kings, ii, 8, 14. 



% It has been quite fashionable to baptize the scions of royalty in water 

 brought from the Jordan. That used on the occasion of the baptism of young 

 Napoleon, was obtained by Chateaubriand. Some, or all, of Queen Victoria's 

 children, have been similarly honored. 



