WATER OF THE RIVER JORDAN. SD 



would have been in vain to aim at analysing it with stiict 

 accuracy. Yet 1 thought it worth while to endeavour to 

 form as exact an estimation of its contents as I could, on 

 account of its connection with the Dead Sea, into which, as 

 was observed before, it pours its waters, and appears to re- 

 main in a stagnating state. This specimen was brought 

 from a spot about three miles distant from that where the 

 river enters the Dead Sea. 



From the perfect pellucidity of this water, its softness. Apparently 

 s^nd the absence of any obvious saline taste, I was led to sup- ^^^^* 

 pose, that it was uncommonly pure, and could in no degree 

 partake of the peculiar saline qualities of the Dead Sea. 

 But I was soon induced to alter my opinion by the following 

 results. 



1. The same chemical reagents, as were used to ascer- but analogous 



tain the general properties of the Dead Sea water, being J? '^,^* °^ ^^* 

 ,.,,.,, , /y, _,, ° Dead Sea ex- 



applied to this, produced analogous effects. The same cept in 



three muriates and even the vestige of selenite were dis- strength. 



tinctly discovered ; and this resemblance became more 



striking in proportion- as the water was concentrated by 



evaporation. 



2. 500 grains of this water being evaporated at about 

 SCO**, the dry residue weighed exactly 0*8 of a grain. TTiis 



makes the solid ingredients amount only to 1'6 grain in '^ 



1000 grains of the water, a singular contrast with the Dead 



Sea, which contains nearly 300 times that portion of saline Apparently 



matter. As the water was concentrating, a few white par- contains -j-^-^ 



tides were perceived on its surface, and a few others gradu- contents. 



ally subsided. When dried, the residue appeared in the 



form of a white incrustation, the upper edge of which 



exhibited great numbers of very minute crystals, ..hich 



from their saline taste, and their cubic shape, discoverable 



by the aid of a microscope, were evidently common salt. 



3. Distilled water being thrown on this residue, a minute 

 portion of it remained undissolved, and on pouring an acid 

 on this substance, a distinct effervescence was produced, 

 showing the presence of carbonate of lime. 



4. From the clear fluid a precipitate was obtained by 

 oxalate of ammonia, which, dried but not calcined, weighed 

 0' 12 of a g^ain. 



5. From 



