Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/239

223 THE NORTHERN SAMARITAN HILLS. 223

contain them. See pages 30 to 34. But it may be well, in addition, to point to the connection of the Plain of Esdraelon, the Eastern Plains of the Mefjir Basin, and the uplands of the Jordan Slope from the Plain of Salim to the Plain of Beisan. These form an unbroken succession of pastoral plains and downs.

The following routes across the northern part of the Samaritan Hills also claim attention. Lateral valleys along the summit of the Jordan slope are traversed by the ancient highway between Nablus, Beisan, and the Sea of Galilee. The road from Nablus to Jenin and Nazareth, skirts the Plain of Fendakumieh, and the Merj el Ghuruk, and passing through Kubatieh, it has the plateau of the Upper Selhab on the right, and the Plain of 'Arrabeh or Dothan on the left. From the north-eastern edge of the Plain of 'Arrabeh, there is but a short descent of less than a mile, to the Plain of Esdraelon, by way of Burkin. The descent from the Plain of 'Arrabeh to the Plain of Sharon is about nine miles in length, and the road takes a hilly track by Fer&sin (alt. 787 feet) and Kuffin (alt. 460 feet). The upland between the Plains of Esdraelon and Sharon is crossed by a highway which leaves Kerkur on the west, and ascends the Wady 'Arab, for about four miles from the foot of the hills, when it forks, sending two branches to the Plain of Esdraelon, through Musmus to Lejjun on the right, and through Kefrein on the left. The high road from Kerkur to Acre, proceeds at first due north, over wooded hills to Kannir (alt. 275 feet), and near Umm esh Shuf (alt. 400 feet) ; thence it advances more easterly across the open chalky downs of the Belad er Euhah, and descends to the Plain of Esdraelon, at the mouth of Wady el Mihl, and the foot of the isolated mound of Tell Kaimoun, once fortified. The nearest habitation is the Druse hamlet of el Mansurah, at the foot of Mount Carmel ; the whole length of this route across the hills is about 14 miles, between Umm esh Shuf and Mansurah. The only village is Daliet er Ruhah (alt. 729 feet), about half a mile on the east of the road.