Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/133

117 WADY EL KHUBERA. 117

At the eastern end of the plain, the Wady es Sihaniyeh joins the Kuryeh. Its heads are found along the edge of the basin from Yukin to Istabul. Two wadys descending from Istabul and Zif unite, and running eastward receive two branches from Yukin on the north, and one from el Bueib on the south.

Below the plain the main Wady continues eastward along the northern waterparting as Wady Umm Kheiyirah and finally as Wady el Jerfan.

II. The Wady Malaki drains the rest of the western water- parting. Its principal source is in the south-west extremity of the basin, where it is first called Wady Kueiwis, and runs north-eastward to enter the gorge of Wady el War and Malaki. In doing so its name is changed three times in four miles. Before entering the gorge a branch is received on the left bank, which rises at the opposite extremities of a valley that runs along the waterparting between Kh. Ghanaim and el Kurmul. Another branch comes from Kh. Saima, follow- ing a ridge extending from Kh. Ghanaim to the entrance of the gorge. On the east of this ridge four valleys rise and unite before descending into the gorge on its north or left bank. The Malaki gorge is about six miles in length, and it is only separated by two miles of open ground from the Khubera gorge.

III. The Wady Eujm el Khulil rises on the southern margin of the basin at Khurbet et Tuany, and drains a valley about nine miles in length between the margin and the Malaki gorge.

This basin is one of the scenes of David's exploits. Ziph, Carmel and Maon, and Engedi, retain their names unaltered except in spelling to this day. 1 Samuel, xxiii to xxvi. Lieut. Conder identifies the hill of Hachilah with the range on the north of the Malaki gorge, the summit of which now bears the name of el Kolah. The Sela or cliff of Ham- Mahlekoth (1 Samuel xxiii, 28) is referred to the Malaki gorge, still bearing the identical name. Conder's " Tent Work," ii, 89-91.

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