A River Flowing Inland

On the African shore, near the Gulf of Aden, and connectinjf the Lake of Laeei with the main ocean, may be found one of the most wonderful rivers in the world. This natural curiosity in the shape of a river does not flow to but from tho ocean toward the inland. The surface of Lake Assal is nearly seven hundred feet below the sea level, and it is fed altogether by this paradoxical river, the latter being about twenty-two miles In leng'th. It is said to be a wonderful fuct that this river of immense volume (especially at high tide) furnishes exactly enough water to counterbalanco tho extraordinary evaporation of the lake, and that in consequence the lake's surfaco remains at a uniform levcl year aftar vear.