File:"From Dan to Beersheba"; or, The Land of promise as it now appears - including a description of the boundaries, topography, agriculture, antiquities, cities, and present inhabitants of that wonderful (14597898937).jpg

Identifier: fromdantobeershe00newmuoft (find matches)
Title: "From Dan to Beersheba"; or, The Land of promise as it now appears : including a description of the boundaries, topography, agriculture, antiquities, cities, and present inhabitants of that wonderful land ...
Year: 1864 (1860s)
Authors: Newman, John Philip, Bp., 1826-1899
Subjects: Palestine -- Description and travel
Publisher: New York : Harper
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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peaks of Engedi; and over that vast plateauof unrelieved desolation wasspread a white sulphurous crust,reflecting the light and heat. Near the mouth of the Jordana band of Bedouin rufl3ans were holding an ominous consulta-tion, and keenly watching our movements. From the head ofthe caravan came the shrill voice of the sheikh to closeranks, while two soldiers dashed into the jungle to ascertainthe design of the council. Intimidating the robbers by threats,they returned, assuring us that no attack would be made, butadvising us to keep close together. At noon we stood uponthe northern shore of the Dead Sea. Owing to the thick hazethat obscured the mountains, it seemed shoreless. The smoothwaters lay like molten silver, silent and motionless, sparklingin the sunlight and dazzling to the sight. It was death robedin light. The waters are clear as crystal and exceedinglybrilliant, and, though intensely salt, they are so soft that a bathin them is like bathing in oil. When midway my person I
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FROM DAN TO BKEESHEBA. 199 began to rise, and yielding to the soft hands that bore me up,I i-eclined as upon the softest down. To sink was impossible;to float required no effort; to read, converse, sleep, was easy.Where the cuticle was bruised or broken a smarting sensationwas experienced, and for ten hours after the bath the hair re-mained stift and the body felt as if it had been lubricated withoil. Gently sloping toward tlie sea, the northern coast con-sists of sand and blackened pebbles, and over its entire breadthare strewn quantities of drift-wood, such as willow twigs,broken canes, and poplar branches, thrown up by the violenceof the waves when the sea is in commotion. Higher up is aterrace of bitumen, soft and slippery, and not unlike black clay.Neither shrub, flower, nor blade of grass, nor shell, can befound on all that lengthened beach. Occupying the lowest portion of the Jordan Valley, theDead Sea is forty miles long, from five to nine wide, and fromtwo to 1308 feet deep.

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