

Lieut. Lynch's Expedition to the Jordan and Dead Sea. 33 1 



teen deep; the water was only four feet deep and was covered 

 with a green scum, and two Arabs were bathing in it ; yet the 



whole party, men and animals were, nevertheless, constrained to 

 drink of it. 



The whole region is one of entire desolation from the Medi- 

 terranean to the Dead Sea, except where water redeems here and 

 there a patch in a ravine or valley for crops or verdure ; a small 

 patch of tobacco in a narrow ravine was guarded by an Arab with 

 a long gun, and there was wheat and also barley in a valley skirt- 

 ing the base of the hill. Lieut. Lynch finally came in sight of 

 the Holy City, elevated, as was ascertained by his levelings, 

 4000 feet above the Dead Sea. 



On the 29th they planted their spirit level on the bank of the 

 Mediterranean, one mile and a half south of Jaffa, having carried 

 a line from the Dead Sea through the desert of Judea over moun- 

 tain ridges, ravines and precipices, and most of the time under a 

 scorching sun. It was conducted by Lieut. Dale, and correspond- 

 ed with the triangulation of Lieut. Symonds, R. N. They 

 "found the depression of the surface of the Dead Sea, below that 

 °f the Mediterranean, about 1300 feet: the height of Jerusalem 

 above the Dead Sea is about three times this amount ; and that 

 height is almost the same multiple of the depth of the sea." 



Their work being accomplished, they were hospitably received 

 at the country house of Mr. Murad, the American Consul, which 

 was placed at their disposal ; and here they remained till June 

 6, busily employed in posting up and digesting their observations. 



On June 7, they left Jaffa for St. Jean d lore, a land party un- 

 der Lieut. Dale, and the remainder of the party with Lieut. Lynch, 

 lri a chartered boat. At Acre they re-embarked their effects 

 brought over from Tiberias, and prepared for an excursion to Naz- 

 areth and the source of the Jordan. 



June 10. — They left Acre and arrived at Nazareth by the way 

 °f the valley of the Winds, a place secluded among mountains, and 

 containing about 5000 inhabitants. They ascended Mount Ta- 

 bor, the reputed scene of the transfiguration. From the summit 

 is a magnificent view of the plain of Esdraelon, bounded by Car- 

 tel on the west, and Gilboa on the south. N.W. is Nazareth, N.E. 

 the sea of Galilee and the snowy peak of Mount Hermon. They 

 a gain visited the lower source of the Jordan, and passed along the 

 western bank of the Dead Sea to Bethsaida on the north, and as- 

 cending the high hills they enjoyed a good view of the rapid and 

 turbulent Jordan rushing down in one line of foam, and thus they 

 We »t on to L. Merom, and beyond it to Caesarea Philippi, and 

 still farther on they came to the real source of the Jordan, a (aim- 

 to*n or several streams bursting from the side of a hill. The 

 J? v « gushes out copiously from a rock about forty feet high, 

 Arming the principal feature of a very picturesque landscape. 



