Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/146

130 130 THE MARITIME PLAINS.

continues along the plain in an unbroken line to Mount Carmel and the Bay of Acre. This range is formed by the final escarpment of the Hills of Samaria or Mount Ephraim. The entrance of this recess may be located along a track between Sily and Zerin, where its width is six miles ; and it runs back into the mountains for about nine miles, the width above Jenin and Arraneh being reduced to two miles.

The arms or recesses of the great plain are so thoroughly connected with the central part, that a separate account of each of them may appear to detract from the magnitude which the landscape in every case actually presents. Thus, from Jenin the view extends across the plain northward to Nazareth, a distance of 17 miles ; although the imaginary line across the mouth of the recess is only six or seven miles away. Towards the north-west, the plain is seen extending for fully 20 miles, with Mount Carmel beyond. Similar remarks may be made in each case.

The central part of the Plain may be considered to extend along the Samaritan Hills from ik& gorge of the Mukutt'a, on the north-west, to Sily on the south-east, a length of 15 miles. The width of this part may be taken between the Samaritan Hills and the ends of the opposite spurs which divide the arms and face these hills ; and it may be reckoned at six or seven miles in each case, viz., the Nazarene. Hills, Jebel Duhy, and Zerin at the foot of Mount Gilboa.

A few eminences occurring in this part scarcely serve to disturb its generally level aspect. The most remarkable is a low promontory thrown out from the Samaritan Hills towards the recess between the Nazarene range and Jebel Duhy. Its extremity is marked by ruins named Ludd (alt. 275 feet), the Eiver Mukutt'a at the foot of the hill being 181 feet. On the other side of the Mukutt'a towards the north, there is an eminence of similar height, dominated by the hamlet of el Warakany (alt. 277 feet). This appears to be connected with the more prominent termination of the Nazarene range at Ikneifis (alt. 508 feet). That a certain importance has been attached to these features is evident from the following