The Dead Sea
When Jesus at one time during his latter days left Jerusalem at the feast of the dedication because the Jews attempted to stone Him, it is said that He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John had first baptized, and there he abode. The view above is taken from a point about four miles south of the traditional place of John’s baptizing. One morning at six o’clock (on the 26th of April, 1894) the artist and one of the editors saw the sun rise over the mountains of Moab and bathe the whole plain of the Jordan, as well as the Judean mountains, in a deep red, glowing, liquid fire. We were about ten miles from Jericho. Our party took a bath at this point to test the truth of the oft made statement that one could not sink in the Dead Sea. We found it to be literally true. It is almost impossible to keep one’s feet under water. The taste of the water is as pungent as ammonia, though it is as clear and as bright as any body of water. You see our old sheik standing on the shore with his gun. He is on guard. He accompanied us during our entire Jericho trip. We left this point at seven o’clock and slowly made our way up to the place of baptism, above where the Jordan empties into the Dead Sea. We are now looking toward the northwest. One thing surprised us as we came from Jericho to this body of water. When we first came in sight of the sea it seemed to be about a quarter of a mile from us, but we found that it was really four miles. You see an old boat lying upon the shore in the picture.
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