Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/151

135 THE PLAIN OF SHARON. 135

Selman passes on the northern side of the town of Ludd, as Wady Ludd and Wady Razia, and it unites with the Budrus at Kefr Ana in the midst of the level.

The view of all this region from the Tower of Eamleh is described by Dr. Robinson as " rarely surpassed in richness and beauty."* Dr. Thomson declares it to be " inexpressibly grand, the whole plain of Sharon from the mountains of Judea and Samaria to the sea, and from the foot of Carmel to the sandy deserts of Philistia, lies spread out like an illuminated

map."t

Such are the features of this famous plain as they have been for the first time clearly defined by the survey. Its villages and ancient sites will be noted in the Memoirs. The most complete account of them, hitherto, is given by M. Guerin in his volumes on Samaria, but he was unable to detect the erroneous representation of the principal streams which was then accepted, and thus confounds Wady Shair with Nahr el Falik, with the result of confusing Wady Shair with Wady Kanah, which is 15 miles further south, and also Micmethah with Kakon.J

The following upland plains are connected with the mari- time region in various ways, which will be explained.

The Plain of 'Arrdbeh or Dothan.

The Nahr el Mefjir crosses the Plain of Sharon on the south of Caesarea, and the upper part of its basin includes a series of plains which, but for the outlet of their waters into the Plain of Sharon, would be more nearly related to the south-eastern recess of the Merj Ibn Amir, the Plain of Esdraelon or Megiddo.

The Plain of 'Arrabeh or Dothan, where Joseph was seized, and sold by his jealous brethren, is connected with the maritime plain by Wady Abu Nar, and continues to be a highway between the Mediterranean and the east of Jordan, as it was in Jacob's time. Dr. Eobinson, on his last journey,

f " Land and Book," 530. J Guerin, " Samarie," ii, 346.
 * " Biblical Kesearches," ii, 231.