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129 THE PLAINS OF ACRE AND MEGIDDO. 129

miles on the south of that mountain. The Wady Bireh was traversed by Dr. Tristram,* but he was unable to visit the grand ruined fortress of Kaukab el Hauwa or the " Star in the Air," so called by the Arabs from its prominent and lofty site, at the junction of Wady Bireh with the Jordan Valley (alt. 975 feet, or about 1,900 feet above the Jordan). Descriptions of the view from Mount Tabor are given by Dr. Eobinsou;t and from Jebel Duhy by Lieutenant Conder.J

The fifth recess is formed by the Valley of Jezreel or Nahr Jalud, lying between Jebel Duhy and Mount Gilboa. It is rather a broad avenue to and from the plain, than a part of it, for at the entrance it begins a rapid descent from the plain to the Jordan at the average rate of nearly 80 feet to a mile. Still its general aspect persuaded Dr. Eobinson to regard it as an arm or branch of the great plain. The water- parting from the summit of Jebel ed Duhy passes down to the plain at the village of El 'Afuleh in a south-westerly curve. The altitude at the village is 260 feet. From El 'Afuleh the waterparting curves round to the south- east as far as the village of Zerin (alt. 402 feet) at the northern extremity of Mount Gilboa ; skirting in its course the edge of the descent of the valley of Jezreel. From Zerin the waterparting passes southward for a mile, and then turns south-east along the crest of Mount Gilboa, a name unknown to the natives, who have no general appellation for the range. Robinson describes the ascent to Zerin from the south as scarcely perceptible, but on reaching the village, it was found " standing on the brow of a very steep rocky descent of 100 feet or more towards the north-east."! | The valley has been already noticed in Part I.

The sixth and last recess of the great plain occupies the south-eastern angle of the basin, and lies between Mount Gilboa and the south-eastern extremity of the range which


 * " Land of Israel," 453, 454. f " Bib. Kes.," ii, 354.

J " Tent Work," i, 120. " Bib. Kes.," ii, 320.


 * " Bib. Res.," ii, 319.