V.

CHAP. formerly. We noticed an appearance of this kind, but, on account of its trivial nature, neglected to pay proper attention to it, notwithstanding the hints given by more than one writer upon this subject'. Neither boat, nor vessel of any kind, appeared upon the lake. The water was as clear as the purest crystal; sweet, cool, and most refreshing to the taste. Swimming to a considerable distance from the shore, we found it so limpid, that we could discern the bottom covered with shining pebbles. Among these stones was a beautiful but very diminutive kind of shell, being a non-descript species of Buccinum, which we have called BUCCINUM GALILEUM. We amused ourselves by diving for specimens; and the very circumstance of discerning such small objects beneath

Non-descript shells.

(1) Hegesippus de Excid. Urb. Hiero. lib. iii. c. 26, &c.

(2) See the Vignette to this Chapter. The figure which most resembles this new species of Buccinum is in Chemnitz. (Vol. IV. p. 43. tab. 124. ff. 1167, 1169.) He calls it Nassa fasciata; and describes it "fasciis alternis obscurè brunneis, rufescentibus et candidis circumcincta." He refers also to Seba, (Thesaurus, vol. III. tab. 53. f. 43.) who describes it, "cinereo-flava, itidem costata crenata, et profundè lyrata." The latter part of Seba's description is particularly characteristic of this new species, which is evidently a Buccinum. Chemnitz says that his shell is found in great abundance at Tranquebar. Neither of the figures referred to affords a correct representation of the Galilæan Buccinum; nor is there in Linnæus any description which answers to it. We have therefore named it Buccinum Galilæum.

CHAP.

IX.

River

Jordan.

the surface, may prove the high transparency of the water. The River Jordan maintains its course through the middle of the lake; and, it is said, without mingling its waters. A similar story is related of the Rhine and Moselle at Coblentz, and in other parts of the world, where difference of colour has been caused in water by the junction of rivers. A strong current also marks the passage of the Jordan through the middle of the lake; and when this is opposed by contrary winds, which blow here with the force of a hurricane from the south-east, sweeping from the mountains into the lake, it may be conceived that a boisterous sea is instantly raised this the small vessels of the country are ill qualified to resist. As different statements have been made of the breadth of this lake, and experienced mariners are often tolerably accurate in measuring distance upon water by the eye, we asked Captain Culverhouse what he believed to be the interval between Tiberias and the opposite shore, where there is a village, scarcely perceptible, upon the site of antient Hippos. He considered it as equal to Hippos. six miles. Mr. Loudon, Purser of the Romulus, and also the Cockswain of the Captain's barge,

CHAP.

V.

Dimen

sions of the

lilee.

were of the same opinion of course, such a mode of computing distances must be liable to error. We could obtain no information from the inhabitants respecting the dimensions of their lake the vague method of reckoning according to the time one of their boats can sail round or across it, was the only measure they could furnish. According to Sandys', its length is Sea of Ga- twelve miles and a half, and its breadth six. This is evidently derived from Josephus. Of its length we could not form any accurate opinion, because its southern extremity, winding behind distant mountains, was concealed from our view; but we inclined rather to the statement of Hegesippus, as applied by Reland3 to the text of Josephus; this makes it to equal one hundred and forty stadia, or seventeen miles and a half. Josephus speaks of the sweetness of its water, of its pebbly bottom, and, above

(1) In length an hundred furlongs, and fortie in breadth." Sandys' Travels, Book iii. p. 141. Lond. 1637.

(2) See a former Note.

(3) Palæst. Illust. lib. i. c. 39. tom. I. p. 259. Traj. ad Rhen. 1714. (4) "Namque lacus ipsius, velut quodam mare sinus amplissimus, in longitudinem centum quadraginta extenditur stadia, latitudine quadraginta diffunditur." Hegesippus de Excid. Urb. Hiero. lib. iii. c. 26. vol. VII. p. 492. Bib. Pat. Par. 1654.

(5) The waters of this lake are thus extolled by Quaresmius: "Non cœnosæ, paludosæ, amaræ, sed claræ, dulces, potabiles, et fecundæ.” Quaresmii Elucid. Terr. Sanct.lib. vii. c. 3. p. 862. tom. 11. Antverp. 1639.

This

CHAP.

V.

Fishes.

all, of the salubrity of the surrounding atmosphere. He says the water is so cold, that its temperature is not affected by its being exposed to the sun during the hottest season of the year. A most curious circumstance concerning this lake is mentioned by Hasselquist: "I thought it remarkable," observes this celebrated naturalist', "that the same kind of fish should be Singular here met with as in the Nile; Charmuth, Silurus, Banni, Mulsil, and Sparus Galilæus." explains the observations of certain travellers, who speak of the lake as possessing fishes peculiar to itself; not being, perhaps, acquainted with the produce of the Nile. Josephus considers the Lake Gennesareth as having fishes of a peculiar nature; and yet it is very worthy of notice, that, in speaking of the fountain of Capernaum, his remarks tend to confirm the observation made by Hasselquist. "Some consider it, says he, "as a vein of the Nile, because it brings forth fishes resembling the Coracinus of the Alexandrian lake."

(6) Joseph. lib. iii. de Bell. Jud. c. 18.

(7) Hasselquist's Voy. and Travels in the Levant, p. 157. Lond. 1796. (8) Lib. iii. cap. 18. de Bell. Jud.

(9) Ταύτην φλέβα τοῦ Νείλου τινὲς ἔδοξαν, ἐπεὶ γεννᾷ τῷ κατὰ τὴν ̓Αλεξανδρέων λίμνην Κορακίνῳ παραπλήσιον. Joseph. lib. iii. de Bell. Jud. tom. II. p. 258. ed. S. Haverc. Amst. &c. 1726. The same kind of fish is mentioned in Athenæus, (p. 227. C. Hav.) See also "Gesner. de Aquatilibus."

CHAP.
V.

This lake was the scene of a most bloody naval engagement between the Romans under Naval En- Vespasian, and the Jews who had revolted gagement. during the administration of Agrippa. The

Antient

account of the action, as given by Josephus, proves that the vessels of the country were nothing more than mere boats: even those of the Romans, expressly built for that occasion, and described as larger than the ships used by the Jews, consisted of small craft, rapidly constructed, and for the building of which, it is said, they had abundance both of artificers and materials1. Titus and Trajan were present in that engagement; and Vespasian was himself on board the Roman fleet. The rebel army consisted of an immense multitude of seditious people, from all the towns of the country, and especially from those bordering upon the lake, who, as fugitives after the capture of Tarichaa2 by

(I) Josephus, lib. iii. de Bell. Jud. cap. 17.

(2) Tarichæa was situate beyond the Baths of Emmaus, at the southern extremity of the Lake of Gennesareth, three miles and three quarters distant from Tiberias; or thirty stadia, according to Josephus. Between these two cities Vespasian's army was often encamped, and generally at the Baths of Emmaus. Pliny, speaking of Tarichæa, says, that, by some, the lake was called after the name of this city: "A meridie Tarichea, quo nomine aliqui et lacum appellant." (Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. v. cap. 15. L. Bat. 1635. tom. I. p. 262.) In the same manner, the Lake of Geneva is by some called the Lake of Lausanne; and especially by Gibbon, who was offended at being censured