the Dead Sea and the River Jordan . 305 
And the contents inferred by the foregoing method were : 
Salts. 
Acid. 
Muriat of lime 
8,14 = 
4,01 grains. 
Muriat of magnesia 
25,62 = 
14 >35 
Muriat of soda 
2547 = 
11,72 
59 >2 3 = 
30,08 
§IV. 
Analysis of the Dead-Sea Water. 
I now come to the actual examination of the water of the 
Dead Sea, the particulars of which will be found much short- 
ened by the preceding observations. 
1. 20 grains of this water (the whole supply of which 
amounted only to 540 grains ) were put in a glass capsule, and 
slowly evaporated in a water bath, by means of an appropriate 
apparatus, the temperature of the capsule being constantly kept 
within 5 degrees of 180°. The object of this experiment was 
simply to know the weight of the solid contents of the water, 
dried under various degrees of heat, and to observe the appear- 
ances produced by evaporation. After a few hours, and when 
the residue had ceased to lose weight, the saline mass, whilst 
still warm, appeared in the form of a white semitransparent in- 
crustation, which yielded to the touch, beingsoft, and of a pulpy 
consistence. In cooling it became hard, and of a much more 
opaque white colour. When examined with attention, the 
borders of this mass were found covered with small cubic 
crystals, and the same appearance was observed, though less 
conspicuously, in the centre under the saline incrustation, when 
in the state of semifusion just described. On standing in the 
