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[476]
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.
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