1848.] DIMENSIONS OF THE LAKE. . 499 



of the adjacent country, and whose credulity overbalanced 

 their judgment.* 



The task of surveying the lake, and making the necessary 

 soundings, was found to be attended with a great deal of 

 difficulty and inconvenience. The heat of the sun, whose 

 burning rays were concentrated within the opening between 

 the mountain walls bordering the lake on either hand, was 

 almost overpowering ; the arms and clothes of the party were 

 completely coated over with the greasy salt ; and their hands 

 and faces, eyes, lips, and nostrils, smarted with the incrusta- 

 tions formed by the spray that dashed over them. On the 

 30th of April, Lieutenant Lynch crossed over the sea to 

 Moab ; several days were spent in visiting the interesting 

 localities, and cruising along the Arabian shore ; and on the 

 5th of May — the work of exploration being now nearly 

 ended — he returned with his party to Ain Turabeh, whither 

 the camp had been removed in charge of the Sherif. While 

 the Americans were on the eastern side of the sea, they 

 were several times in dangerof being attacked by the un- 

 friendly Arabs, but the watchfulness of the party prevented a 

 surprise, and the fidelity of 'Akil and his little band, united 

 to their own firmness and intrepidity, secured them from 

 molestation. 



(2.) Widely differing statements have been made, from 

 time to time, in regard to the dimensions of this body of 

 water, — some authorities making it fifty, others seventy, and 

 others still one hundred miles in length, and from twelve to 

 twenty-five in breadth. Dr. Robinson supposed it to be about 

 fifty miles long and twelve miles broad. His observations are 

 usually very accurate ; but the actual measurements of 

 Lieutenant Lynch and his party reduce the size of the lake 



* Clemens of Rome mentions the same pillar referred to by Josephus. Justin 

 the Martyr, Irenseus, and Tertullian, also speak of it ; they allege that it gave 

 periodical evidence of its feminine nature, and Irenseus seriously questions how 

 its members remained so long entire. Reland, the learned orientalist relates a 

 tradition,— that whenever a part of the pillar was washed away by the rains it 

 was supernaturally renewed, — which might have relieved the good and pious, 

 but superstitious father, from his difficulty. 



