Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/225

209 THE NAZARETH RANGE. 209

plateau to Damieh is no doubt rapid, for the waterparting at the head of the wady is probably more than 700 feet above the sea, while at the foot of Damieh, the wady must be at least 100 feet below the sea.

At its southern end the range is extended from the cliffs of el Kulah (alt. 1,179 feet) due south towards the Wady el Bireh ; but when it reaches about a mile from the wady, the range turns to the south-east and descends to the Ghor, filling the angle between the Wady el Bireh and the Ghor.

Besides the Wady el Mady, which flows along its western edge, the Plateau of Sh'arah is watered by four perennial streams which rise near the line of cliffs. Three flowing south- ward to join Wady esh Sherrar, are named Wady Sh'arah, Wady Shomer, and Kaud Tuffah. The fourth rises near Sirin and runs due west to join the Tuffah near its outlet.

Several villages are distributed over the plateau. Along the summit of the range are Kefr Sabt (alt. 650 feet), Sarona (alt. 892 feet), el Hadetheh (alt. 735 feet), and Sirin (alt. 570 feet). Towards the centre are Kefr Kama (alt. 650 feet), on a branch of Wady Sh'arah; Madher (alt. 544 feet) between Wady Sh'arah and Wady Shomer; and Meshah (alt. 320 feet) about a mile from the mouth of Wady el Mady.

From the heights of Mount Tabor and Jebel es Sih, which rise above 1,800 feet, the Plateau of Sh'arah is the first drop in the descent towards the Sea of Galilee, its mean altitude being about 600 feet. The second drop in the same direction, is the Plain of Ahma, which has been shown to be about 300 feet below the sea level in the centre of the plain. The surface of the Sea of Galilee itself is depressed 628 feet ; and its greatest depth was reported by Lieutenant Lynch of the United States Navy to be 160 feet lower.

The higher hills on the west of the plateau, and the range which divides the Plain of Ahma from the Sea of Galilee, appear to be of limestone) which also seems to underlie the intermediate surface of the plateau and the plain. The line of interrupted cliffs between the plain and plateau is said to be basaltic, and lava currents with fragments of lava and pumice