Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/143

127 THE PLAINS OF ACRE AND MEGIDDO. 127

Thomson found the track between Eummaneh and Kana flooded and dangerous.*

The Plain of Toran is 700 feet above the sea. It is about live miles in length, and seldom extends to a mile in width. On account of its fertility, it is called the Golden Plain. On its southern slope is the large village of Kei'r Kenna, the traditional Cana of Galilee, and so regarded by the Latin and Greek Churches alike. The arguments in favour of the tradition are given at length by Mons. V. Guerin.j Lieutenant Conder proposes to remove the difficulty arising from the distance between Bethabara and Cana, by placing the former much nearer, and at the Ford of 'Abarah on the Jordan near Beisan, instead of at the fords of the lower Jordan near Jericho. But he is still disposed to prefer the traditional site for Cana of Galilee, before Dr. Kobinson's ; at the same time he points to another candidate in 'Ain Kana, between Nazareth and er Eeineh.J

The mountain spur which bounds the Plain of Toran on the south, has the village of el Meshhed (alt. 1,254 feet) on its summit. It is the reputed birth and burial place of the Prophet Jonah. From this point the southern boundary of the Plain of el Buttauf, is found in the continuation from Meshhed of the hill which has Seffurieh on its summit (alt. 813 feet), and which descends to Wady el Khalladiyeh, where it meets a spur from Tell Seraj Allauneh, coming down on the eastern side of Wady el Ashert.

Between this boundary and the Nazarene Hills, which have their western termination at Semunieh (alt. 623 feet), is the hollow or low ground to which the name of the Sahel or Plain of Seffurieh may be conveniently applied and restricted towards the north ; although it is at present written on the map somewhat further to the north than seems desirable for the purpose of geographical definition. The Kustul Seffurieh


 * " Land and Book," 426.

t " Galilee " i, 168-182.

J Conder's " Handbook," 321 ; " Tent Work," ii, 64-68.

Guerin, " Galilee," i, 165-168.