DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0293
VIEW OF TIIE DEAD SEA. 293
The first view we had of the Dead Sea, presented
it far below us. Our descent to the plain of Jericho
was rapid, and in some places, almost precipitous.
The valley of the Kedron lay at our left, forming a
deep, rocky, ravine. We followed its course nearly
to the Dead Sea. The plain bordering the sea, has
a dry, pebbly surface, with but little vegetation.
True, near the shore, we saw a few clumps of small,
dwarf bushes, and in one place, a small canebrake,
but the borders of the Dead Sea have a rather life-
less and barren aspect. This, however, has been
over-painted by many writers. That part of the
plain of Jericho which borders the head of the Dead
Sea, and about two miles of its western shore, is the
poorest part that I saw of it—has less vegetation and
shrubbery ; but there is a portion of both. Around
the head of the sea, where the river Jordan empties
into it, we could see portions of shrubbery and high
coarse grass. The mountains along the east shore
have a naked, barren, and dark appearance ; and to
the south of us, the mountains on the west side have
the same wild and desolate aspect. To appearance,
not a tree, shrub, or blade of grass was growing on
any of them. A strange, wild, lonely aspect seemed
to brood over the whole scene.
My view of " Sodom's Sea," was of course, only a
cursory one, being not to exceed two hours by its
side. I had seen it in the distance from the lofty sum-
mit of Mt. Hor, in the land of Idumea, but now standing
on its sterile brink, I cast a look over its dark myste-
rious waters., with an interest I shall not attempt to
describe. Here it lay as in a cauldron of rock.
The first view we had of the Dead Sea, presented
it far below us. Our descent to the plain of Jericho
was rapid, and in some places, almost precipitous.
The valley of the Kedron lay at our left, forming a
deep, rocky, ravine. We followed its course nearly
to the Dead Sea. The plain bordering the sea, has
a dry, pebbly surface, with but little vegetation.
True, near the shore, we saw a few clumps of small,
dwarf bushes, and in one place, a small canebrake,
but the borders of the Dead Sea have a rather life-
less and barren aspect. This, however, has been
over-painted by many writers. That part of the
plain of Jericho which borders the head of the Dead
Sea, and about two miles of its western shore, is the
poorest part that I saw of it—has less vegetation and
shrubbery ; but there is a portion of both. Around
the head of the sea, where the river Jordan empties
into it, we could see portions of shrubbery and high
coarse grass. The mountains along the east shore
have a naked, barren, and dark appearance ; and to
the south of us, the mountains on the west side have
the same wild and desolate aspect. To appearance,
not a tree, shrub, or blade of grass was growing on
any of them. A strange, wild, lonely aspect seemed
to brood over the whole scene.
My view of " Sodom's Sea," was of course, only a
cursory one, being not to exceed two hours by its
side. I had seen it in the distance from the lofty sum-
mit of Mt. Hor, in the land of Idumea, but now standing
on its sterile brink, I cast a look over its dark myste-
rious waters., with an interest I shall not attempt to
describe. Here it lay as in a cauldron of rock.