Does Germany Covet the Dead Sea?
It is undeniable that the Holy Land is gradually being Germanized. More than two thirds of the philanthropic institutions in the way of churches, missions, hospitals, and hospices are in the hands of the Germans. The leading polytechnics, public schools, and educational institutes are also governed by them, while quite large German colonies are now to be found in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jaffa, and other places. Recent excavations of any importance have been carried out by the Germans, who also virtually control the country's trade. Now an important German expedition is to explore the Dead Sea. It is being sent out by the Palestine Exploration Society of Berlin, and Dr. A. Brühl, custodian of the Berlin Institute for Sea [Exploration] Research, will be in charge. Whether it is Germany's desire to secure the mineral wealth of the Dead Sea basin, remains, of course, to be seen. It is well known that the finest and purest bitumen is obtained here, also quantities of excellent sulfur. According to Professor Blanckenhorn's report, copper mines have been worked near the south end of the Dead Sea in Byzantine times; and also marble, porphyry, and other fine classes of stone are to be found there, as well as phosphates. It has also been stated by American experts that evidences of coal and oil are very apparent. Salt is found in great quantities; but upon this the government holds a monopoly, with the curious result that salt is at present imported from Smyrna and England. The principal places of interest around the sea are En-gedi, Masada, Jebel Usdum, the four or five small watered plains, and the wild gorges of the Arnon and Zerka. En-gedi, about half way down on the western shore, was undoubtedly a little paradise in the time of Solomon, and is referred to in the Old Testament (Joshua 15:62). Ten miles from here is the remarkable natural fortress of Masada, used as a place of refuge by Herod. Eight miles further down the coast is the mountain of Jebel Usdum, six miles long, composed of hard salt. In this mountain there is a wonderful salt cave, from the roof of which hang great snow-white stalactites. Some eleven miles up, going northward, on the eastern side, is the gorge of the River Arnon, containing the finest natural scenery in Palestine. The sides of the canyon rise perpendicularly about three hundred feet, and are only about twenty feet apart in some places, here overhanging, there overlapping or dovetailing into one another, as tho this mighty mass had been rent violently asunder to allow the seething stream of the Arnon, with its cascades and whirlpools, access to the sea. The cliffs are of sandstone of the most beautiful and exquisite colors. To the popular mind, the Dead Sea is naturally associated with Sodom and Gomorrah, the "cities of the plain" that were overthrown on account of the wickedness of their inhabitants. On the eastern shore there is palpable evidence of volcanic upheaval.—Illustrated London News.