Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/150

134 134 THE MARITIME PLAINS.

A more considerable group begins to rise between Jaffa and Eamleh ; and the waterparting between Nahr el 'Auja and Nahr Eubin, crosses this range at altitudes of 240 and 260 feet, passing south of er Eamleh to Abu Shusheh (alt. 756 feet). This is the division between the Plain of Sharon and Philistia ; the ancient Philistine border town of Ekron, being now found in the village of Akir, about five miles south-west of er Eamleh. These may be called the Eamleh Hills.

The two principal groups of hilly ground divide the more level portions of the Plain of Sharon into three parts. The most extensive reaches from the northern extremity of the plain to the head of the Kulunsaweh Valley, a length of 24 miles. This tract is divided between three distinct river basins, which are those of the Nahr Zerka, the Nahr el Mefjir, and the Nahr Iskanderuneh. The waterparting on the plain between Zerka and el Mefjir is in the midst of the Oak Forest before noticed ; that between Mefjir and Iskanderuneh lies between Kakon and Jelameh, and runs on to the semicircular line of hills with the village of Zelefeh (alt. 101 feet). The Zerka basin only runs back to the waterparting of the Mukutt'a between Jarah and Musmus. The Mefjir extends up to the Jordan basin on both sides of the Merj el Ghuruk. The Iskanderuneh basin is also in contact with the Jordan basin between Yasid and Mount Gerizim. (See Part I.)

The second and third portions of the level plain are in the basin of El 'Auja, and they are divided by the Dhahr Selmeh Hills. Through the central portion on the north of the hills, comes down the Wady Kanah and Wady Balut ; the first by Jiljilieh, and the next on the south of Mejdel Yaba. These descend from the Jordan waterparting between Mount Gerizim and Bethel.

The southernmost level portion of Sharon receives the great Wadys Budrus and Selman. These barely touch the Jordan basin between Bethel and Bireh, being separated from other parts on the north and south, by the overlapping of the adjoining basins. This division of the 'Auja basin is of equal width with the northern division. The Budrus enters the plain on the north of Haditheh, as Wady es Surar. The