Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/255

239 THE JERUSALEM GROUP. 239

Sea, they form the base of the highland for the rest of the survey. They rise to a height of about 1,000 feet, and between el Kueiserah and Wady ed Derajeh, they are capped by summits that slope upwards to a further altitude. Tubk el Kuneiterah is 306 feet above the ocean, or 1,598 feet above the Dead Sea. Tubk es Sammarah is 530 feet above the ocean, or 1,822 feet above the Dead Sea. These heights are on the eastern side of the Plain of el Bukei'a, which has on the west a range which culminates in el Muntar, a mountain on the north of the Greek convent of Mar Saba, with an altitude of 1,723 feet above the ocean, or 3,015 feet above the Dead Sea. The range of el Muntar is a prolongation south- ward from Jebel Ektief, and it is intersected by the rocky gorge of Wady Mukelik at the southern foot of Ekteif. From el Muntar the range is continued to the south-west, and crosses the Wady en Nar where it bends to the south, and soon runs due south by Akabet el Murajeh (alt. 1,600 feet) to the Wady el 'Alya, and passes it by Muksar Ismain in a south-westerly direction to Wady Tamireh, beyond which it follows another ridge running due south to Wady el Muallak or ed Derajeh, the southern boundary of this group. This line of Eastern Summits will be found extending to the end of the survey, oftentimes and generally with a distinctness which throws a light on less obvious portions.

On the north of the Plain of el Bukei'a, the slopes between the Eastern Summits and the cliffs, is a succession of ridges and ravines with the rocky gorges of Wady Rumma- maneh, and Wady Kelt on the north and south. A highway from Jericho, through Mukhmas and Deir Diwan to Bethel crosses this part. The highway from Jerusalem to Jericho enters the slope at Talat et Dumm, which is therefore a noted point ; and it is considered to be identical with the Adummim of Joshua xv, 7. Between el Bukei'a and Wady ed Derajeh, the slope passes from the rugged valley of Wady en Nar or Kidron, to rolling chalk downs spreading out from the lofty cliffs that border the Dead Sea to the Eastern Eange ; which here throws out upon the downs, like advanced posts,