3*3 
the Dead Sea and the River 'Jordan. 
accuracy. Yet I 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 remain in a stag- 
nating 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, and 
the absence of any obvious saline taste, I was led to suppose 
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 ascertain 
the general properties of the Dead Sea water, being applied 
to this, produced analogous effects. The same three muriats 
and even the vestige of selenite, were distinctly 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 200*, 
the dry residue weighed exactly 0,8 grains. This makes the 
solid ingredients amount only to 1,6 grains in 1000 grains of 
the water, a singular contrast with the Dead Sea, which con- 
tains nearly 300 times that proportion of saline matter. As 
the water was concentrating, a few white particles were per- 
ceived on its surface, and a few others gradually subsided. 
When dried, the residue appeared in the form of a white in- 
crustation, the upper edge of which exhibited great numbers 
of very minute crystals, which from their saline taste, and 
their cubic shape discoverable by the aid of a microscope, 
were evidently common salt. 
