"The water," said he, "is intensely salt, containing twenty-six per cent. of solid matter, which is four per cent. more than Great Salt Lake in Utah. Lake Elton, in Russia, is said to contain thirty per cent., and if so, it surpasses the Dead Sea, and is the only lake that does.
"The solid elements in the water of the Dead Sea are principally chloride of sodium (common salt) and chloride of magnesium, and there is more of the latter than the former. It is the magnesium that gives the bitter taste; and the next ingredient is chloride of calcium, which gives it an oily feeling that you will perceive when you bathe in it. There are half a dozen other ingredients, but they are so small in quantity that it is not worth while to mention them."
The eyes of the boys brightened at the suggestion of a bath in the Dead Sea, and they immediately consulted Ali on the subject. The dragoman said it was easy enough, as they were in no danger of drowning, and could make a dressing, or, rather, an undressing room of the bushes a little farther along the shore, where they would not be disturbed by the Arabs.
The vote for a bath was carried almost unanimously. The Doctor was the only one who declined the experiment, and, as he had been there before, he had no curiosity to satisfy.
"Be very careful not to get the water in your eyes," he said to the youths, as they entered the sea. "It will not do any serious harm, but will make them smart and burn very disagreeably for hours."
They heeded his injunction, and limped over the flinty stones, which threatened to cut their feet at every step. Once in the water they experienced a novel sensation; no effort was needed to keep them above the surface, and they floated very much as corks are seen to float in a basin of ordinary water. Ali tossed an egg to them, and it floated with fully a third of its bulk exposed. They could not get their feet more than a few inches below the surface, and they found it more difficult to swim than they had supposed, in consequence of the great buoyancy of the water. They could paddle around with the greatest ease, but swimming was another affair.
A few minutes of the bath was enough by way of experiment. There was a great sputtering when Frank happened to get some of the water in his mouth. Fred laughed at his cousin's mishap, but immediately wished he had not done so. While in the midst of an audible smile he unexpectedly rolled over, and caught more of the bitter waters than he had bargained for. As soon as he could speak he suggested that he had had bath enough, and, Frank agreeing with him, they returned to the shore. The rest of the party were there already, and acting on the advice of Ali they dried themselves speedily and vigorously with the towels he held in readiness.
Unless removed immediately, the water is apt to cause a prickling and burning sensation which continues several hours. It is sure to leave an oily feeling that is disagreeable but not painful, and does not usually disappear until a fresh-water bath is taken. This may be had in the Jordan, and is taken by most travellers if time and circumstances permit.