Page:Travels from Aleppo to the city of Jerusalem, and through the Holy Land, in the year 1776.pdf/18

Rh the house of Mary Magdalen, and the well the apostles used to drink at.

We then proceeded for the river Jordan. We observed before that the uppermost spring of this noted river is in Mount Lebanon, about 12 miles north of Cesarea Philippi. After it has run about 13 miles more to the south, it receives a considerable branch, which under ground proceeds to the lake Phiala. About two hours after, in our way to the sea, we passed through a most cursed barren place not having so much as a green herb, or a pile of grass, and the face of the earth covered with salt, and tho’ dry yet our horses sank up to the knees. I am persuaded that this is the Valley of Salt, mentioned in 2 Kings xiv. 7. We came now to the dead sea, being about 50 miles in length and 15 broad. There is not a place from whence the water which comes into it runs out again, except it be under the earth; neither doth it seem to increase with the river Jordan and several other waters that do run into it. It was once a fruitful valley, and compared for delight to paradise, and called Pentapolis, being five cities but afterwards destroyed from heaven, and turned into this filthy lake and barren desolation which doth encompass it. And to try the virtue that is reported to be in the water,