TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 627 



Kitchener advanced a new theory. There is little doubt that the depression was 

 caused by a fault, and the sliding down of the strata, and that it was once an 

 immense lake ; this is proved by the ancient shore lines found at different elevations 

 along its course. The general supposition is, that it has been a continuation of the 

 Gulf of Akaba, and that the gentle rising of 130 miles has cut oft* the Dead Sea 

 from' the ocean. It is curious that on this raised land there is still a well-defined 

 valley, having a fall, and showing the channel of a water-course, as far as known, 

 the whole way. In the north, there is considerable evidence of volcanic action, and 

 a volcano found was exactly in the bed of the valley of the Leontes, at the bend 

 of the river ; it has been mentioned previously by Canon Tristram, who noted the 

 way the basalt had flowed down the western side of the Hasbany. These volcanic 

 outbreaks are known to belong to a late period of geological time. Before then, 

 the Leontes, instead of being forcibly turned off at right angles to its course in the 

 most extraordinary bend which makes it cleave through the rocks to the sea, 

 would have flowed into the mighty lake which then covered the plain, and over the 

 southern boundary along the Arraba, which still shows signs of its presence, to the 

 Gulf of Akaba. The only supposition required in this theory is a more abundant 

 supply of water, and of that the country gives striking proof. The extraordinary 

 evidences of the action of glaciers on the rocks, the deep water-courses cut through 

 hundreds of feet of solid limestone, now dry, speak of a former age of rushing tor- 

 rents. _ Thus this volcanic outbreak in the Merj Ayun is the key to the present 

 formation of the valley ; a very slight cutting through it would again turn the 

 Leontes into its former course down the Jordan valley and into the Dead Sea. 

 The saltness of the Dead Sea may be accounted for by the great natural cliffs 

 of rock-salt found at its southern extremity, and by the many salt springs that 

 are found in that region continually pouring brine into its waters. These cliffs of 

 rock-salt at the Khashm Usdun are a natural crystalline formation, and cannot, 

 therefore, have been deposited by an evaporating sea. 



On the 22nd, camp was moved to Nakurah ; and from the Eiis en Nakurah, 

 the last round of observation, angles were taken, closing the triangulation of the 

 whole of Palestine, and joining very well on the base ; the check calculations have 

 proved its accuracy. 



On the 11th July, all arrived at Haiffa, after completing the survey of 1000 

 square miles of country. _ The whole expenditure was £900, and taking £100 as 

 the cost of the fair drawing, the party may claim to have produced a 1-inch survey 

 at the cost of £1 a square mile. 



After four weeks' rest in the Lebanon, the field was taken again on the 23rd 

 August witha reduced party. A long march led to the south country, and 340 

 square miles in the desert round Beersheba were surveyed. This completed the 

 survey of Palestine; but the early portion required revision, and from 10th October 

 to 22nd November 1700 square miles were revised. The party, having completed 

 all it was sent to perform, then returned to England. 



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