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147 THE HULEH PLAIN. 147

the altitude of the surface of the lake seven feet above the sea, which gives a fall of 133 feet from the confluence of the rivers in the Huleh Plain. Captain Mansell, K.N., made it 273 feet, and De Bertou reported 20 feet below the sea level. Other erroneous attempts are quoted in Van de Velde's Memoirs. The only soundings upon the lake were made by Mr. Macgregor in " Eob Boy," and were found to vary from 9 to 15 feet.

The Ard (Plain) el Kheit.

The beautiful and fertile Plain of el Kheit begins on the north at 'Ain el MeMhah and terminates on the south at Kh. el Muntar, which is on a range of hills forming the waterparting of small streams on the south that flow into the Sea of Galilee. The lower part of the plain skirting Huleh Lake is perfectly level ; but towards the mountains on the west, it is diversified by rolling ground. The length of plain is about eight miles, and its average breadth about four. The high road which crosses the Jordan at the Jisr Benat Y'akub (Bridge of Jacob's daughters), skirts the southern edge of the plain ; and it is traversed by tracks along the foot of the mountains, also along the lake, and in many other directions.

The northern part of el Kheit is watered by brooks which fall into a stream rising in the fine fountain of 'Ain el Mellahah. The southern part is crossed by Wady Hindaj which descends from Jebel Jermuk (alt. 3,934 feet) through deep and rocky chasms. Wady el Wakkas follows. It rises in the Merj el Jish on the north of Safed, and breaks its way down to the plain by a precipitous course. Another wady crosses the plain from Kh. el Loziyeh, and joins the lake near its outfall.

THE GALILEAN GORGE OF THE JORDAN ; OR THE DESCENT FROM LAKE HULEH TO THE SEA OF GALILEE.

The waters of Lake Huleh are nearly on a level with the sea. About six miles and a half north of the lake where the Jordan unites its affluents before entering the Huleh