70 History of Nature. [BooK V. 



Report that nothing will sink in it. This Lake in Length 

 exceedeth 100 Miles, in Breadth 25 Miles where broadest, 

 and 6 where narrowest. On the East, Arabia of the 

 Nomades confronteth it ; and on the South, Machserus, in 

 Time past the second Fortress of Judaea, next to Hierosolyma. 

 On the same side is a Fountain of Hot Waters, useful in 

 Medicine, named Callirhoe ; a Name that expresseth the 

 Glory of the Waters. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

 The Race of the Esstni. 



ALONG the West Coast retire the Esseni i 1 a Nation living- 

 alone, and beyond all others throughout the World wonder- 

 ful: without any Women, casting off the whole of Venus : 

 without Money : keeping company only with Date-trees. 

 Yet the Country is ever well peopled, because daily numbers 

 of Strangers resort thither from other Parts : and such as 

 are weary of Life are by the Waves of Fortune driven thither 

 to their manner of Living. Thus for thousands of Ages 

 (beyond belief to say), the Race is eternal in which no one is 

 Born : so prolific to them is the Repentance of Life of other 

 Men. Beneath them stood the Town Engadda, for Fertility 

 (of Soil) and Groves of Date-trees the next City to Hiero- 

 solyma, now a Place for the Dead. Beyond it is Massada, 

 a Castle upon a Rock, and not far from Asphaltites. And 

 thus much concerning Judaea. 



1 The Essenes were a Jewish sect, divided into two classes. First, the 

 practical, who lived in society, and applied themselves to husbandry and 

 other harmless occupations ; and second, the contemplative, who were also 

 called therapeutce, or physicians, from their application principally to the 

 cure of the diseases of the soul ; these last devoted themselves wholly to 

 meditation, and avoided living in great towns, as unfavourable to a con- 

 templative life. Both classes were exceedingly abstemious, and highly 

 exemplary in their moral deportment. Although our Saviour censured 

 all the other sects of the Jews for their vices, yet He never spoke of the 

 Essenes ; neither are they mentioned by name in any part of the New 

 Testament. Pliny's object in the account he has thought fit to give of 

 them appears to have been to say something that might excite wonder 

 and ridicule. Wern. Club, 



