Of the Lake Asphaltites.
Concerning the Lake _Asphaltites_, the Lake of _Sodom_, or the dead Sea,
that heavy bodies cast therein sink not, but by reason of a salt and
bituminous thickness in the water float and swim above, narrations
already made are of that variety, we can hardly from thence deduce a
satisfactory determination; and that not only in the story it self, but
in the cause alledged. As for the story, men deliver it variously: some
I fear too largely, as _Pliny_, who affirmeth that bricks will swim
therein. _Mandevil_ goeth farther, that Iron swimmeth, and feathers
sink. _Munster_ in his Cosmography hath another relation, although
perhaps derived from the Poem of _Tertullian,_ that a candle Burning
swimmeth, but if extinguished sinketh. Some more moderately, as
_Josephus_, and many others: affirming only that living bodies float,
nor peremptorily averring they cannot sink, but that indeed they do not
easily descend. Most traditionally, as _Galen_, _Pliny_, _Solinus_ and
_Strabo_, who seems to mistake the Lake _Serbonis_ for it. Few
experimentally, most contenting themselves in the experiment of
_Vespasian_, by whose command some captives bound were cast therein, and
found to float as though they could have swimmed: divers
contradictorily, or contrarily, quite overthrowing the point.
_Aristotle_ in the second of his Meteors speaks lightly thereof, +hôsper
mythologousi+, which word is variously rendred, by some as a fabulous
account, by some as a common talk. _Biddulphus_ divideth the common
accounts of _Judea_ in three parts, the one saith he, are apparent
Truths, the second apparent falshoods, the third are dubious or between
both; in which form he ranketh the relation of this Lake.[SN: Biddulphi
intinerarium Anglice.] But _Andrew Thevet_ in his Cosmography doth
ocularly overthrow it; for he affirmeth, he saw an Ass with his Saddle
cast therein and drowned. Now of these relations so different or
contrary unto each other, the second is most moderate and safest to be
embraced, which saith, that living bodies swim therein, that is, they do
not easily sink: and this, untill exact experiment further determine,
may be allowed, as best consistent with this quality, and the reasons
alledged for it.
As for the cause of this effect, common opinion conceives it to be the
salt and bituminous thickness of the water. This indeed is probable, and
may be admitted as far as the second opinion concedeth. For certain it
is that salt water will support a greater burden then fresh; and we see
an egg will descend in salt water, which will swim in brine. But that
Iron should float therein, from this cause is hardly granted; for heavy
bodies will only swim in that liquor, wherein the weight of their bulk
exceedeth not the weight of so much water as it occupieth or taketh up.
But surely no water is heavy enough to answer the ponderosity of Iron,
and therefore that metal will sink in any kind thereof, and it was a
perfect Miracle which was wrought this way by _Elisha_. Thus we perceive
that bodies do swim or sink in different liquors, according unto the
tenuity or gravity of those liquors which are to support them. So salt
water beareth that weight which will sink in vineger, vineger that which
will fall in fresh water, fresh water that which will sink in spirits of
Wine, and that will swim in spirits of Wine which will sink in clear
oyl; as we made experiment in globes of wax pierced with light sticks to
support them. So that although it be conceived an hard matter to sink in
oyl, I believe a man should find it very difficult, and next to flying,
to swim therein. And thus will Gold sink in Quick-silver, wherein Iron
and other metals swim; for the bulk of Gold is only heavier then that
space of Quick-silver which it containeth: and thus also in a solution
of one ounce of Quick-silver in two of _Aqua fortis_, the liquor will
bear Amber, Horn, and the softer kinds of stones, as we have made triall
in each.
But a private opinion there is which crosseth the common conceit,
maintained by some of late, and alleadged of old by _Strabo_, that the
floating of bodies in this Lake proceeds not from the thickness of the
water, but a bituminous ebullition from the bottom, whereby it wafts up
bodies injected, and suffereth them not easily to sink. The verity
thereof would be enquired by ocular exploration, for this way is also
probable. So we observe, it is hard to wade deep in baths where springs
arise; and thus sometime are bals made to play upon a spouting stream.
And therefore, until judicious and ocular experiment confirm or
distinguish the assertion, that bodies do not sink herein at all, we do
not yet believe; that they not easily, or with more difficulty descend
in this than other water, we shall readily assent. But to conclude an
impossibility from a difficulty, or affirm whereas things not easily
sink, they do not drown at all; beside the fallacy, is a frequent
addition in humane expression, and an amplification not unusual as well
in opinions as relations; which oftentimes give indistinct accounts of
proximities, and without restraint transcend from one another. Thus,
forasmuch as the torrid Zone was conceived exceeding hot, and of
difficult habitation, the opinions of men so advanced its constitution,
as to conceive the same unhabitable, and beyond possibility for man to
live therein. Thus, because there are no Wolves in _England_, nor have
been observed for divers generations, common people have proceeded into
opinions, and some wise men into affirmations, they will not live
therein, although brought from other Countries. Thus most men affirm,
and few here will believe the contrary, that there be no Spiders in
_Ireland_; but we have beheld some in that Country; and though but few,
some Cob-webs we behold in Irish wood in _England_. Thus the Crocodile
from an egg growing up to an exceeding magnitude, common conceit, and
divers Writers deliver, it hath no period of encrease, but groweth as
long as it liveth. And thus in brief, in most apprehensions the conceits
of men extend the considerations of things, and dilate their notions
beyond the propriety of their natures.
In the Mapps of the dead Sea or Lake of _Sodom_, we meet with the
destroyed Cities, and in divers the City of _Sodom_ placed about the
middle, or far from the shore of it; but that it could not be far from
_Segor_, which was seated under the mountains neer the side of the Lake,
seems inferrible from the sudden arrival of _Lot_, who coming from
_Sodom_ at day break, attained _Segor_ at Sun rising; and therefore
_Sodom_ to be placed not many miles from it, and not in the middle of
the Lake, which is accounted about eighteen miles over; and so will
leave about nine miles to be passed in too small a space of time.