that
as far as Jordan and the lake Asphaltitis lies lower indeed, though it
be equally desert and barren. But so much shall suffice to have said
about Jericho, and of the great happiness of its situation.

4. The nature of the lake Asphaltitis is also worth describing. It is,
as I have said already, bitter and unfruitful. It is so light [or thick]
that it bears up the heaviest things that are thrown into it; nor is it
easy for any one to make things sink therein to the bottom, if he had a
mind so to do. Accordingly, when Vespasian went to see it, he commanded
that some who could not swim should have their hands tied behind them,
and be thrown into the deep, when it so happened that they all swam as
if a wind had forced them upwards. Moreover, the change of the color of
this lake is wonderful, for it changes its appearance thrice every
day; and as the rays of the sun fall differently upon it, the light is
variously reflected. However, it casts up black clods of bitumen in many
parts of it; these swim at the top of the water, and resemble both in
shape and bigness headless bulls; and when the laborers that belong to
the lake come to it, and catch hold of it as it hangs together, they
draw it into their ships; but when the ship is full, it is not easy to
cut off the rest, for it is so tenacious as to make the ship hang upon
its clods till they set it loose with the menstrual blood of women, and
with urine, to which alone it yields. This bitumen is not only
useful for the caulking of ships, but for the cure of men's bodies;
accordingly, it is mixed in a great many medicines. The length of this
lake is five hundred and eighty furlongs, where it is extended as far as
Zoar in Arabia; and its breadth is a hundred and fifty. The country of
Sodom borders upon it. It was of old a most happy land, both for the
fruits it bore and the riches of its cities, although it be now all
burnt up. It is related how, for the impiety of its inhabitants, it
was burnt by lightning; in consequence of which there are still the
remainders of that Divine fire, and the traces [or shadows] of the
five cities are still to be seen, as well as the ashes growing in their
fruits; which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten, but
if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes.
And thus what is related of this land of Sodom hath these marks of
credibility which our very sight affords us.

CHAPTER 9.

That Vespa