

Lieut. Lynch' s Expedition to the Jordan and Dead Sea. 327 



Lieut. Lynch named the northern extremity of the peninsula 

 Point Cortigan, and the southern, Point Molyneux, in honor of 

 "the two gallant Englishmen who lost their lives in attempting 

 to explore this sea." Near the base of the peninsula there is a 

 range of hills 2000 feet high; the cliff called Little Tiger con- 

 sists of horizontal strata of brown and rose colored limestone. 



At 3 50 p. m. 3 a hot hurricane struck them, temperature 102°, 

 and with severe exertion they gained the shore, exhausted by 

 hard pulling of the oars, and the commander's eyelids blis- 

 tered by the hot wind. The men had great difficulty to protect 

 themselves, some in the ravine, some under the awnings of the 

 boat ; the metal of their spectacles burned the face, and their but- 

 tons the hands ; and the folds of garments next to the body were 

 coolest. 



They found an old millstone upon the beach and huge boul- 

 ders of sandstone in the ravine, strata of sandstone above in hor- 

 izontal layers and limestone upon it. Bathing in a pool of fresh 

 water afforded a momentary relief, but in an instant the moisture 

 was evaporated, and the surface was dry and parched. 



The wind rose to a tempest ; the heat increased after sunset, 

 and at 8 p. m. was 106° ; it was more like the blast of a furnace 

 than the living air. Drinking did little good, for without any 

 sensible perspiration the fluid was evaporated as fast as received. 

 Musquitos tormented them almost to madness, and they passed a 

 miserable night. When the water was exhausted and all were 

 too weary to go for more, they threw themselves upon the ground, 

 eyes smarting, skin burning, lips and tongue and throat parched 

 and dry, and some garment wrapped around the head to avert 

 the stifling heat. At midnight thermometer 98°. 



Flocks of birds were seen and storks in the early dawn of 

 April 27. A miserable tribe of Arabs gathered on the shore to 

 see them depart. A glassy undulation indicated the coming of a 

 hot gust of wind, and with some difficulty they reached the shore 

 before the sea was all in a foam. The night was passed where 

 there was no fresh water, but they had the luxury of a beach of 

 pebbles far preferable to the mud and dust of their late sleeping 

 places. They picked up pieces of sulphur and saw the track of 

 a panther in a cave. They found the Arabs of this region indis- 

 pensable auxiliaries; they brought them food and drink; they 

 acted as guides and messengers, and in the absence of the adven- 

 turers, carefully guarded their camp. A decided but courteous 

 manner wins their respect and good will. 



The tendency to drowsiness upon the sea was now extreme; 

 all slept except the men at the oars who pulled with half closed 

 ll( ls, and the steersman who was the commander, was little more 

 awake. On the 28th they received news from home announc- 

 ln g the death of John Quiiicy Adams, and it was hard in their 



