huge crater. The range of hills along its western shore, 
from the plain of Gennesaret southward, is basalt; and nearly 
the whole of the high table-land of Bashan, the side of 
which rises abruptly to a height of 2,600 feet above the 
eastern shore, is of the same geological formation. The basin 
of the lake has evidently been from a very remote period the 
centre of volcanic action, and perhaps owes its origin to some 
terrible eruption in prehistoric times. It is still frequently 
visited by earthquakes ; and the shattered walls and houses of 
Tiberias bear Avitness to their desolating effects. 
7. A mile south of Tiberias, close to the lake, are the warm 
springs and baths of Hammath, which gave a name to an 
ancient town of Naplitali (-Josh. xix. 65). The name signifies 
“ warm baths.” They were well known in Roman times, 
being mentioned by both Josephus and Pliny. The water 
issues from the base of a cliff of trap rock, and has a tem- 
perature of 144° Falir. ; its taste is extremely salt and bitter, 
and it emits a strong odour of sulphur. 
8. On the east side of the Jordan valley, three miles from 
the southern end of the lake, arc the still more famous baths of 
Amatha, probably a corruption of the Hebrew word hammatli. 
There are seven or eight springs, surrounded by Roman ruins, 
situated in the bottom of the deep wild ravine of the river 
Hieromax, one of the largest tributaries to the Jordan. The 
temperature of the water is 107° Falir.; and in Roman times 
the baths were, in healing virtue, ranked next to those of 
Bairn. 
9. As the Sea of Galilee thus manifestly occupies a volcanic 
basin, and as its surface has a depression of 653 ft., it would 
be interesting to know, from thorough scientific research, 
whether the present formation of the basin, and the depression 
of the lake, are coeval with the general geological structure 
of the surrounding country, or -whether there are any evidences 
that the basin was formed or deepened by more recent con- 
vulsions. The hills on the east have a uniform elevation 
above the lake of about 2,600 ft., and those on the west 
about 1,600 ; and behind each range is an expanse of table- 
land. A careful examination of the torrent-beds which fall 
into the lake would solve the problem. If the basin and the 
present level of the water be coeval with the table-land around, 
then the torrent-beds will have a gradual and regular descent 
to the lake ; but, on the other hand, if the surface of the lake 
stood formeidy at a higher level, and if it was depressed by a 
sudden convulsion, then an abrupt break will be found, as a 
rule, in the ravines, and a corresponding shore-line may be 
traced along the hill- sides. So far as I know, no minute 
