Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/222

206 206 THE MOUNTAINS OF LOWER GALILEE.

range. On the south of Semunieh, another prominent spur runs into the Plain of Esdraelon, and bears upon it the villages of Yafa and Mujeidil (alt. 780 feet), with the smaller hamlets of Jebata (alt. 355 feet), and Ikhneifis at its base. The isolated mound of el Warakany (alt. 277 feet), on the banks of the Mukutt'a, seems to be an outlier of this spur. The occurrence of this mound taken in connection with a similar elevation on the opposite bank of the river, accounts for the passage of a main road across this part of the plain, and also for the ancient prominence of Megiddo and Lejjun, as strongholds commanding the entrance into Samaria by this route.

Further east, the main range descends to the plain by gradually shortening slopes. About a mile and a half due south of Nazareth, the mountain descends to the plain by the rocky precipice of Jebel Kafsy (alt. 1,286 feet), which is represented by the Latin Church as the " Mountain of the Precipitation."* On the east of Iksal, the edge of the plain is nearly within a mile of the summit of the range at Kujm el 'Ajamy. The head of the recess is about a mile and a half further east, near Deburieh, and at this point, Mount Tabor (alt. 1,843 feet), is abruptly projected into the plain for more than two miles. A ridge from Mount Tabor towards the north-west, connects it with the main range at a point about half a mile north-east of the village of 'Ain Mahil, and the range soon makes an abrupt and short bend towards the north, and then another short bend to the north-east, where it throws off a spur towards the Wady el Mady, quite parallel to the ridge which connects Mount Tabor with the main range. The wadys which descend from the eastern side of the ridge, and from the main range between it and the spur, are all directed to a bed running along the western foot of the spur, which unites them in one outlet that joins Wady el Mady. The wooded flanks of Mount Tabor and the con- necting ridge, skirt the Wady el Mady for about four miles

II, 335. LieVin, "Guide des Sanctuaires," 484.
 * St. Luke iv, 29. Guerin, "Galilee" I, 93 to 97. Rob. "Bib. Res."