Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/233

217 THE NORTHEKN SAMAKITAN HILLS. 217

waters of the Mukutt'a coming from the north-east and south- east. If the southern part of the Plain of Beisan has under- gone a similar denudation, then the obliquity of the ancient base line would have been much less, and the protrusion of Mount Gilboa would not have existed.

The western face of these hills descends to the Plain of Sharon from Cape Carmel southward. The eastern face descends to the Ghor of the Jordan. There are notable differences between the northern and southern parts of the Samaritan Hills, and the natural features enable a distinct dividing line to be drawn between them.

One extremity of this line is suggested by the conditions of the eastern slope. On the south of the Plain of Beisan, the hills advance to the banks of the Jordan, and soon exhibit a parallel structure in successive ridges and valleys, descending south-eastward to the Jordan from the main waterparting. The series terminates on the south in Wady el Ifjim, called Wady el Kerad towards its source on the edge of the Plain of Salim, and Wady el Humr in crossing the Ghor. It should be remembered that the limits of mountains and hills, are to be found in plains or watercourses. Summits or ridges are not available for the purpose, as they cannot be naturally separated from their slopes.

On the north of Wady el Ifjim, the features of the ground are comparatively expanded and developed. On the south they are as remarkably contracted and reduced to small propor- tions. The northern part will be described at once. The southern part will follow in due course. It will then be seen that the Wady el Ifjim constitutes a dividing line between sections of country strongly contrasted with each other.

In the northern section, the summit of the Jordan slope is thrown back westward, as much as six to ten miles ; and in a broad sweep it is also advanced eastward up to the Jordan in its central part ; while it recedes from the river gradually towards the north and south. The slope is divided between four parallel ridges and their offsets. The most northerly ridge culminates