Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/181

165 THE PLAIN OF PHASAELIS. 165

The mountains maintain their uniform direction south- wards for three or four miles below Fusail. Low hills then advance eastward into the Ghor, up to a frontage corresponding with the eastern side of Kurn Surtabeh. Between five and six miles from Fusail, the mountains recede westward for about two miles from their former line, and become separated from the low hills by an enclosed plain, varying in width up to about two miles. The low hills run southward for about seven miles, and their termination is distinguished by a prominent summit called 'Osh el Ghurab or the Eaven's Nest. The Ghor now recovers its full width, and becomes the Plain of Jericho. Towards the end of the hills, the mountains also gradually advance up to their former line with rocky precipices at their base ; and leaving only a narrow entrance between the enclosed plain and the Plain of Jericho. In the entrance is the noted fountain of 'Ain Duk and ' Ain en Nuei'a- meh. The length of the enclosed plain is about four miles. Within this brief distance, the plain is crossed by Wady el 'Aujah, Wady el Abeid, and Wady Umm Sirah, and these also intersect the hills on the east in proceeding to the Jordan by the Wady el 'Aujah. It seems probable that the Vale or Plain (Emek) of Keziz, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin (Josh, xviii, 21), may be identified with this enclosed tract.

To the Ghor itself, the name of " the Plain of Phasaelis " has been applied. Among the features which particularly characterise this part, may be noted the remarkable manner in which the Wady Far'ah as Wady el Jozeleh, and the Wady el Mellahah, a branch of Wady el 'Aujah, both advance across the Gh6r from the west, to within a mile and less of the Jordan, and then turn southwards, pursuing a parallel course to the main stream for six or seven miles, before the confluence of each is effected. Observations are wanting to denote the relative altitude of the tributary beds to the bed of the main stream, or to the surface of the Ghor ; but it is evident that these parallel passages of the tributaries produce a considerable disturbance of the surface of the Ghor, degrading or wearing it away to a much greater extent than

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