Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/205

189 THE WESTERN SLOPE. 189

beginning of the examination of the western part of Upper Galilee.

The Western Slope and its Upper Plateaus.

The line of waterparting heights that forms the western boundary of the valleys of Safed or 'Amud, Hindaj, and Selu- kieh, divides that series of valleys from another on the west, that in some respects presents similar facilities of lateraj. com- munication through the highland, between north and south.

Eastward of the roadway carried over the plains, and the occasional headlands along the coast, passage in a parallel direction is obstructed for a considerable distance inland, by the constant succession of deep and narrow valleys, and steep ridges descending from the interior. In the direct distance of about 30 miles between the Eiver Kasimiyeh and Acre, there are no less ibhan 30 wadys or rivers and channels which have distinct outlets into the sea, and which have to be crossed in travelling northward or southward. To this number of main channels must be added the valleys of their numerous affluents, and the ridges between them, running for the most part in a more or less parallel direction. These obstructions jln the hills to communication parallel with the maritime plain coyer a belt of country exceeding a dozen or fifteen miles in breadth. Within that belt are found the sources of all the wadys contributing to the 30 outfalls before mentioned, except three. These three are the Hubeishtyeh, the Ezzlyeh, and the Kurn. They pass through the furrowed belt to the s.ea, in deep and narrow gorges like the rest, J)ut in the higher ground beyond, they spread out into consecutive plateaus, and overlap the others, their main streams assuming more or Jess of a meridional direction ; while the branches running north and south, greatly facilitate communication.

The plateaus formed by tl^e upper parts of the Hubeis- friyeh, Ezziyeh, and Kurn basins, include the western division of the highland of Upper Galilee ; the eastern division being embraced mainly by the pfateaus of Safed and Selukieh, supplemented by the smaller series of 'Aizakaneh, Meis, and