Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/250

234 234 THE MOUNTAINS OF JUMA.

The line from Wady es Surar to Wady ed Derajeh, is chosen for the purpose of dividing the mountain group dis- tinguished by the Plain of Yalo and the higher plains of the Plateau of Jerusalem, from the more elevated and otherwise distinctly characterised group, which has its centre about Hulhul and Hebron, and is called in the Bible " The Hill Country." South of the line, the ground rises at once. At el Khudr, or the Convent of St. George, it is 2,832 feet, and at Tekua it is 2,798 feet, with a continual ascent to 3,546 feet at er Rameh on the north of Hebron. On the north of the line, the prominent Frank Mountain, opposite Tekua, is only 2,489 feet; and the Convent of Mar Elyas facing el Khudr is 2,616 feet. No heights of 3,000 feet are found northward until Tell 'Asur is reached.

The foregoing remarks on the present group, have been directed mainly to the purpose of expounding the main features that give occasion for the group, and the determ ina- tion of its limits. It is now proposed to regard the Western Jerusalem Plateau, including the Plains of el Jib and Eephaim, as the centre and summit of the group, and to take note of the slopes which descend therefrom to the west (1), south (2), and east (3).

(1.) It has been already observed that the waterparting between Nahr el 'Auja and Nahr Rubin, forms the western edge of the Plain of el Jib. The drainage from the northern and western side, between Bireh, Ram Allah, and the Beth Horon Road is carried off to Wady Malakeh by Wady Hamis, Wady el Kelb, Wady 'Ain 'Arik, Wady es Sunt, and Wady el Mahbis and Imeish.*

Mountain spurs, interposed between these wadys, descend from the Plain of el Jib, to the left bank of the Malakeh, and have their heads at Ram Allah (alt. 2,850 feet), el Muntar, (alt. 2,685 feet), and Beitunia (alt. 2,570 feet). The Wady Imeish has its head in the Plain of el Jib, and in its descent, it becomes the deep gorge on the north side of the famous pass dominated by the villages of Beit Ur el Foka,


 * See ante, page 39.