trigonometrically ascertained. To such an undertaking no great obstacle would probably exist." Character of the Waters. The buoyancy of the waters of the Dead Sea, according to our experience, has already been described; and this shown to accord with the testimony of ancient writers. It is occasioned by the great specific gravity of the water, arising from the heavy solution of various salts contained in it, chiefly those of magnesia and soda. But the weight and proportions of this solution, and of course the specific gravity, would seem to vary somewhat in different parts of the sea, and at different seasons of the year. A portion of water taken from near the mouth of the Jordan, might be expected to be at all times less strongly saturated, than another from the vicinity of 'Ain Jidy; and during the winter season, when the sea is filled by the rains and its level raised several feet, its waters are naturally more diluted than in autumn, after having been for months subjected to the process of evaporation under a burning sun. considerations may serve to account in part for the different results, which have been obtained by chemical analysis. Of the seven analyses 1) The case of the Caspian Sea furnishes a striking instance of the uncertainty of such barometrical measurements. Eleven different series of observations between A. D. 1732 and A. D. 1836, gave for the depression of that sea below the sea of Azof different results, varying from about 100 Paris feet as the least, to about 366 Paris feet as the greatest. The true depression as determined by geometrical survey in A. D. 1836, is 76 Paris feet. See Monatsbericht der Berliner Gesellsch. für Erdkunde, Bd. I. S. 167, 168. 2) Messrs. Moore and Beke transported a boat from Yâfa to These of the water of the Dead the Dead Sea, and attempted a survey of the latter; but were compelled to leave it unfinished. They sounded several times; and found the apparent depth to be more than 300 fathoms or 1800 feet. But not improbably there may have been here a deception in the results; for it must have been a very heavy lead, not to have been borne up by such a length of line in water of so great specific gravity. Journ. of the Geogr. Soc. Vol. VII. 1837. p. 456. 3) See p. 213, above. 4) Galen also remarks, that the water was more bitter in summer than in winter; De Simpl. Med. fac. IV. 19. Reland Pal. p. 242. Sea, which have hitherto been published, the four following seem to deserve the preference, both for their greater exactness and coincidence, and as marking in some measure the progress of chemical discovery; viz. that of Dr. Marcet of London, 1807; Gay-Lussac of Paris, about 1818; Prof. C. G. Gmelin of Tübingen, 1826; and Dr. Apjohn of Dublin, 1839.1 It will be seen that the amount of salts is in general nearly equal; while the relative proportions assigned to the different salts, are exceedingly diverse. The standard of comparison for the specific gravity, is distilled water at 1000; and the density of the water of the Dead Sea is supposed to be greater than that of any other natural water known. 1) These seven analyses are as follows: I. By Macquer, Lavoisier, and Le Sage in Paris, Memoirs de l'Acad. des Sciences, 1778.—II. By Dr. Marcet, with a small quantity of the water, Philosoph. Transact. 1807. p. 296, seq.— III. By Klaproth of Berlin, with water brought to Europe by Mariti fifty years before; Beiträge, Vol. V. p. 189. Berliner Magazin, 1809. p. 139.-IV. By Gay-Lussac, with a large quantity of the water brought home by Count Forbin; see Forbin's Voyage, etc. Annales de Chimie et de Phys. T. XI. 197.-V. By Hermstädt of Berlin about 1822; Schweigger's Journal, Vol. XXXIV. p. 153.-VI. By Prof. Gmelin of Tübingen, who first discovered the existence of Bromi p. 1. um in the water; Würtemb. natur- 2) Gay-Lussac remarks, that he found also a small quantity of Chloride of potassium, and traces of a Sulphate probably of lime. The water analyzed by Dr. Apjohn was taken half a mile from the mouth of the Jordan, near the close of the rainy season; and exhibits a less amount of salts, and a less specific gravity, than occurs in either of the other analyses. He could detect no trace of either alumina or ammonia. I have already alluded to the fact, that the level of the waters of the Dead Sea is higher during and after the rainy season, than in the summer and autumn, after they have been for months evaporated under the burning heat of an unclouded sun. The high bank of pebbles and gravel at 'Ain Jidy has been mentioned; and we afterwards saw at the southern end of the sea traces of its high-water mark, more than an hour South of its limit at the time; indicating that its level must be sometimes ten or fifteen feet higher than when we saw it in May. This is readily accounted for by the vast quantity of water brought into it during the rainy season, not only from the North, but also from the South and from the mountains along its sides. The quantity of rain which falls in Palestine varies greatly in different years; and according to this the basin of the Dead Sea becoming more or less full, is subjected to great variation in a course of years. When the rainy season is at an end, the evaporation is sufficiently powerful to more than counterbalance the influx from the Jordan, and thus again reduce the level of the sea. During the preceding winter, less rain had fallen than is usual. The strong evaporation from the sea also causes it to deposit its salts, particularly in summer, on various parts of the shore; from which the Arabs obtain their chief supply for their families and flocks. That obtained in the Birket el-Khŭlîl south of 'Ain Jidy has already been mentioned; and a place was afterwards pointed out to us at the N. W. corner of the sea, where it is also gathered. Irby and Mangles found Arabs on the north side of the isthmus of the peninsula, “ peeling off a solid surface of salt several inches in thickness, and loading it on asses.' The same deposit is doubtless found on other parts of the coast. 771 According to the testimony of all antiquity and of most modern travellers, there exists within the waters of the Dead Sea no living thing, no trace indeed of animal or vegetable life.2 Our own experience, so far as we had an opportunity to observe, goes to confirm the truth of this testimony. We perceived no sign of life within the waters. Yet occasionally, travellers 1) Travels, p. 451. 2) Tacit. Hist. V. 6, "neque pisces aut suetas aquis volucres patitur." Galen. de Simpl. Med. ÎV. c. 19, φαίνεται ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ ὕδατι μήτε ζῶον ἐγγιγνόμενόν τι, μήτε qutor. Hieron. ad Ezech. xlvii. 8, "Mare mortuum, in quo nihil poterat esse vitale.-Re vera, juxta literam huc usque nihil quod spirat et possit incedere, prae amaritudine nimia in hoc mari reperiri potest." Abulfeda Tab. Syr. ed. Köhler, pp. 12, 156.-The absence of all water-fowl is readily accounted for, by the absence of fish and other animals which constitute their food. have seen shells upon the shore; which has led to the supposition, that small muscles or periwinkles may after all exist in the sea. Maundrell "observed among the pebbles on the shore two or three shells of fish, resembling oyster-shells, at two hours distance from the mouth of the Jordan." Hasselquist notes also cochleae and conchae as common on the banks near the Jordan; and Mr. Legh saw on the northern shore" in the water several small shell-fish, not unlike periwinkles." Irby and Mangles on the peninsula "searched for shells, but found none excepting snailshells, and a small spiral species, invariably without any fish, or the appearance of having had any for a long time."3 These testimonies seem at first view strongly to favour the hypothesis, that at least some species of shell-fish may exist in the sea. But the shells seen by Maundrell may after all have come from the Jordan, or have been dropped here by some Arab or pilgrim; and the accounts of Hasselquist and Legh, I apprehend, are explained and more than counterbalanced by the more exact and cautious testimony of Seetzen. "I dismounted," he says, "and followed for a time the shore of the sea, to look for conchylia and sea-plants; but found none of either. And as fish live upon these, it might naturally be expected that no tenants of the waters would exist here; and this is confirmed by the experience of all whom I have inquired of, and who could know about it.-Snails and muscles I have not found in the lake; some snails that I picked up on the shore, were land-snails. I was particularly attentive to this point; but must remark, 1) Journey, etc. March 30th. 2) Hasselquist's Reise, p. 558. Legh in Macmichael's Journey, Chap. IV. Bibl. Repos. Oct. 1833. p. 618. 3) Travels, p. 454. |