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fire, while bituminous clay, when acted upon by a strong heat, would melt 
away. Consequently, if the houses of Sodom and Gomorrah were built of such 
materials, the action of fire would completely destroy them. (Hear, hear.) 
Rev. C. Lloyd Engstrom. — As chaplain of one of the largest children’s 
asylums in England, I wish to say that I find my satisfaction in hearing 
this paper infinitely increased by the knowledge, derived from my use of 
previous papers read at the Victoria Institute this session, that it will not 
only help me better to understand that blessed Book, of the truth of which I 
find daily confirmations in nature and science, but enable me to explain the 
sacred narrative with more life and reality to the lambs of Christ’s flock. 
Rev. Alfred Kennion. — Having had the privilege of travelling in Pales- 
tine, I can entirely corroborate all I have heard in the very interesting paper 
that has been read by Dr. Porter this evening. Perhaps I may be permitted 
to ask one question. Having said, in the first place, that my view as to the 
site of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah has been for many years precisely 
that which has been put forward in this paper, I would add that one difficulty 
has nevertheless occurred to me, and I shall be glad if Dr. Porter will 
solve it. The attack by Chedorlaomer and his allies was made from the 
south. Is there a roadway by which his invading army could have swept up 
along the other side of the Dead Sea, so as to reach, as he afterwards did, up 
the Jordan valley to Damascus and the neighbourhood ? I do not know the 
eastern shore of the Lake, and it has always been a difficulty to me, if the 
site of the town was on the southern shore of the sea, how his army 
was afterwards found up in the region in which we know Abraham subse- 
quently attacked it. Passing from this to another subject, the site of Damieh, 
I should be glad to know whether that translation, which I have never paid 
any attention to, as to the water rising up in a “ heap,” is exact and accurate ? 
It seems to me (although I am a full and implicit believer in miracles), 
that we ought not to foist in as a miracle, that which may be accounted for 
on natural grounds, unless there is strong reason for doing so. It has 
frequently occurred to me that an earthquake, or something of the kind, may 
have raised the level of the ground at that particular point — Damieh, — that 
this might have made a lake at that place, and the lower part of the waters 
would be drained off into the Dead Sea; that just at that particular juncture 
at Damieh the ground would rise, so as to form a lake in the northern part 
and drain off the water towards the south. I should like to hear whether this 
can be confirmed. The description given by Dr. Porter of the general 
character is, as all of us know, strikingly accurate and correct. I may add 
that I have had great pleasure in listening to this paper. (Hear, hear.) 
Dr. Porter. — In reference to the first question just asked me, as to whether 
there is a road running along the banks of the Dead Sea, I may state that 
if there be a difficulty arising on this point it is not applicable to my 
theory any more than to the other; because we well know that the forces 
which came from the east, swept down in the first place through Bashan, 
and along the heights of Moab, then past Kadesh, some forty or fifty miles 
