s of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam,
and said, "What men are these with thee?"

And Balaam said unto God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath
sent unto me, saying, 'Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt,
it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them;
peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive
them out.'"

And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not
curse the people: for they are blessed."

{257}{258}

[Illustration]
VIEW OF THE DEAD SEA

From a photograph taken by Mr. Louis L. Tribus, Consulting Engineer
and Commissioner of Public Works of the Borough of Richmond, City of
New York.

An interesting fact in connection with this picture of the Dead Sea
concerns the boat which is floating upon it. The owner succeeded in
securing a concession from the Turkish Government to put a steamboat
upon the Dead Sea. When he started to run it he was advised that the
concession had not included the operation of the boat and a
considerable further sum of money was desired by the officials. This
being beyond the power of the man to raise, the boat has not been
operated and remains as the picture shows it.

The water of the Dead Sea contains about 25 per cent. of solid
substances. There are common salt, chloride of calcium, chloride of
magnesium, and other ingredients, and it is not to be wondered at
that the human body floats easily on the surface.

The area of the sea is 360 square miles. Its length is 47-1/2 miles;
its greatest width, 10 miles. The surface is about 1295 feet below
sea level.

Scientific observation justifies the estimate that a daily average
of 6,500,000 tons of water is received into the Dead Sea from the
Jordan and other sources during the year. During the rainy season
the amount is very much greater; during the dry season it is, of
course, very much less, but this average will be maintained year
after year.

There is no outlet, and the level is kept down by evaporation only,
which is very rapid because of the intense heat, the dry atmosphere
and the dry winds which are constantly blowing down the gorges
between the mountains.

The waters of the Jordan, when they reach the sea, are as brown as
the earth through which they flow--a thick solution of mud--but the
instant they mingle with the salt water of the lake the particles of
soil are p