490 THE RAPIDS. [1848. 



So tortuous was the course of the river, that at the close of 

 the second day after leaving Tiberias, they were only twelve 

 miles distant in a straight line from the Sea of Galilee. The 

 boat purchased there was soon dashed to pieces amid the 

 rocks and precipices over which tumbled the foaming waters ; 

 but the metallic ones suffered but little from the severe 

 thumps which they received. No obstacle impeded the de- 

 scent of the stream except the numerous rapids and cascades, 

 many of which were from eleven to fifteen feet fall. In 

 passing these, it was sometimes found necessary to attach 

 ropes to the boats to lower them slowly down ; at others, 

 they made the leap boldly, trusting to fortune and the skilful 

 hand that guided the helm ; and at others still, while one or 

 two remained in each boat, the rest sprang overboard, and 

 clinging to its sides to steady it in the descent, floated along 

 with it over the dangerous rapid or the plunging cascade. 



A member of the party, in giving an account of the pas- 

 sage of one of these rapids, says : — " Presently we came near 

 to the ruins of a bridge, in the immediate vicinity of which 

 was a streaming rapid and a steep and dangerous fall ; over 

 this we had to pass somehow or other : there was no circum- 

 navigating it: the fall was there, and we must dash over it 

 at all hazard. We thought it right, however, first of all, to 

 unload the boats on the banks, and then, ' neck or nothing,' 

 firmly brave the danger : the word ' Ready !' was given — 

 every precaution was taken — and with a thrilling interest 

 the undaunted ' Yankee boys' guided the copper boat, for she 

 took the lead, into the stream: and away they went, dashing 

 ahead, all hands ready to jump overboard if she should strike 

 the rocks and come ' broadside on' to the edge of the fall, and 

 so slew round and capsize. But despite all their forethought 

 and skill, ' she struck,' and slewed round with all hands in 

 her, and dash she went into the midst of the fall. At this 

 dangerous moment the little gig [the boal purchased at Tibe- 

 rias] came over the rapid, jumping like a parched pea, and 

 dashing at us, struck our boat 'amidships,' threatenin j I i 

 break us in two. We fortunately received no injury, but thy 



