Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/185

169 THE PLAIN OF JERICHO. 169

the Jordan. Its crypt and other substructures exist, and were found by Dr. Tristram tenanted by flocks of rock doves.*

The Wady Kelt crosses the Zor for rather more than half a mile to its junction with the Jordan. Near the junction on the south, is the Hajlah Ford, the Pilgrims' bathing place of the present day. According to Lieutenant Conder, both the Latin and Greek Churches regard it now as the scene of Our Lord's Baptism.f Dr. Robinson, and also Dr. Thomson, make this ford the Greek site ; and place the Latin site near Kusr el Yehud.J This is reversed in Baedeker's Guide. In the sixteenth century, the pilgrims resorted to the Ford of El Ghoraniyeh, where Wady en Nuei'ameh joins the Jordan on the right bank, and Wady Nimrin on the left. This position is preferred as the site of Our Lord's Baptism, by M. Guerin, and by Dr. Trisfcram.||

The Khaur el Thumrar, rises in many branches on the western hills on the eastern side of Wady Talat ed Dumm. It crosses the Plain of Jericho on the south of the Hajlah road, near the Kusr Hajlah. On descending to the Zor, it bends to the south, and follows a course parallel to the Jordan into the Dead Sea. The Wady Makarfet Kattum, and the Wady Joreif Ghuzal come down from the same range and cross the plain in courses parallel to the foregoing. They are succeeded by Wady el Kaneiterah, which rises on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, and meets the head waters of Wady Kelt, near Shafat, on the north of Jerusalem. The Kelt again meets the head waters of Wady Nuei'ameh at Bethel, and the Nuei'ameh Basin reaches up to Tell 'Asur. Thus the wadys which cross the Plain of Jericho, are found to form an important part of the watershed, including several roads to the highland between Jerusalem and the north of Bethel, as already explained in treating on the basins.

Further south, the Wady Kumran crosses the plain, where the Ghor comes to a point at the ruins of Kumran,


 * " Land of Israel," 225. t " Tent Work," ii, 17.

+ Eobinson, " Bib. Kes.," i, 536. Thomson, " Land and Book," 615.

"Samarie," i, 114, 115. || "Bible Places," 333, 331.