Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/165

149 WESTERN SHOEE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE. 149

attributed to Capernaum ; Kobinson regards it as Chorazin. Conder, following Neubauer, suggests Caphar Ahim, a town named with Chorazin in the Talmud.*

A wady enters the sea on the east of Tell Hum, and leads upwards to Kh. Kerazeh on the hill-side,' about two miles and a half from the sea. This site is identified with Chorazin. About a mile and a half along the shore, westward of Tell Hum, is the small plain of et Tabghah or Tabighah, identified with Bethsaida of Galilee. It is a fishing village to this day. A cliff or rocky promontory projected into the sea, obstructs further progress along the shore, and divides et Tabghah from the Ghuweir or the Plain of Gennesaret.

The Plain of Gennesaret extends for three miles along the shore of the lake between the rocky heights and promontory which terminate it on the north, and the lofty cliffs of Wady el Hamam on the south. It recedes in a gradual curve from both ends, until it becomes a mile and a half in breadth. It is crossed by Wady 'Amud, Wady er Eubudiyeh, and Wady el Hamam. These embrace the drainage of the highlands between el Jish and Hattin. There is also a stream from 'Ain el Mudauwerah which rises in the plain. The ruins around Khan Minia at the northern end of the plain, are considered by high authorities to be the site of Capernaum. The present village of el Mejdel at the southern end, represents ancient Magdala. Mons. Guerin would place the ancient Chinnereth at Abu Shusheh.

South of Mejdel the highland advances to the sea shore, and a narrow track follows the rocky slope around a pro- jection, which shuts out the view of the plain on the north. A mile and a half from Mejdel the southward track enters the rich valley of Wady Abu el 'Amis, with the fountains of Ayun el Fuliyeh near the shore. The wady comes down from Merj Hattin, and from the rear of the lofty cliffs that dominate the Wady el Hamam or Dovedale, together with the plain beyond. On the summit of the clitfs, and over- looking Wady Abu el 'Amis is Kh. Irbid or Arbed, the


 * tfeubauer, " Geog. du Talmud," 220, 221. Conder's " Tent Work," ii, 183.

L