Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/126

110 110 THE DEAD SEA WATERSHED.

405) ; and Mons. Guerin argues in favour of a position on the south or south-east of Tekoa, and especially at Beni Nairn, Judee, iii, 156. The situations of the " Wilderness of Jeruel," and " the end of the brook," are indicated hereafter on p. 242.]

Dr. Grove's opinion seems to be the most acceptable, because it is more on the direct road to Jerusalem, from the scene of the slaughter, which was on the way to Engedi ; and it is also associated with an existing name, corresponding with the ancient one.

At Urtas the main wady bends round to the south-east to Kh. Bedd Falun and Jebel Fureidis, ancient Herodium,* where it receives the outfall of several valleys rising on the east of Wady el Biar, and remarkable for the aqueduct which is carried along the hill-sides, zigzagging in and out of each valley in succession, on its way from Birket Kuffin near Beit Ummar to el Burak. Below this junction it is called Wady Fureidis and passes the ruins of Khureitun, and cliffs con- taining the great cave* which a false tradition identified with Adullam. The wady is now named after the ruined village, and runs on to meet the Wady Jubb Iblan and the main road which comes through it from Bethlehem to Ain Jidy. It is followed by this road south-eastward up to the entrance of the chasm of Wady Muallak, which becomes Derajeh lower down after its junction with Wady Mukta el Jass. The road turns to the south-west to avoid these great chasms of Wady Derajeh.

(3.) The Wady Mukta el Jass rises on the southern edge of the basin, at Khurbet Tekua, the Tekoa of the Bible. It is called Wady el Menka, till it enters the chasm which leads it to Wady Derajeh, where it receives Wady Dannun and Wady Bassas.

THE BASIN OF WADY EL AREIJEH AND THE MINOR

BASINS ON THE NORTH.

The next primary basin to Wady el Derajeh empties itself at 'Ain Jidy, the biblical Engedi (see a view in Tristram's

Kobinson, i, 478-481.
 * Gender's " Tent Work," i, 294, 295. Guerin, " Judee," iii, 123-139