Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/247

231 THE JEEUSALEM GROUP. 231

Between these easternmost heights and the main range, is the succession of lateral valleys beginning on the south of el Mugheir, with those which meet in Wady Samieh ; followed by the heads of Wady Dar Jerlr ; and the remarkable group descending southwards from Tell 'Asur to Wady Mueheisin and Wady Asis, at the head of Wady Nuei'ameh. The in- terval between these ranges is about five miles in width. It is doubtless a part of the Wilderness of Beth Aven. The main wadys cut through the outer range in deep and rocky gorges, which become exceedingly steep on the final descent.

On the west of this northernmost part of the Judaean highland, must be included the isolated group of low hills in the midst of the Plain of Sharon, between the Nusrah branch and the main stream of Nahr el 'Auja. They reach an altitude of 295 feet.

The Jerusalem Group.

South of the foregoing division, the Judsean heights are characterised very remarkably and distinctly. Beginning on the west, it will be seen that a marked separation occurs on the south of Wady Malakeh, between the base of the moun- tains rising toward the east and the lowland hills sinking toward the west. On the north of Wady Malakeh, the descent from the main waterparting to the Plain of Sharon is gradual, and the successive terraces already indicated, succeed each other with comparatively little interruption of the general slope. But on the south of Wady Malakeh, " the frowning mountains of Judah rise abruptly from the tract of hills at their foot ;"* and the highland is divided from the lowland hills by a succession of valleys running north and south, or in a meridional direction. The most northerly of this series is Wady el Muslib, a branch of Wady Malakeh. It is followed by Wady el Mikteleh, which runs south through the beautiful Plain or Merj of Ibn Amir, Joshua's "Valley of Ajalon."f This plain is more than two miles

f Josh. x. 12.
 * Robinson ii, 231.

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