Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/263

247 THE HEBRON GROUP. 247

the Wilderness of Jeruel, 2 Chron. xx, 16. " The end of the brook," may be the head of Wady el Mukeiberah, the invaders being drawn up on the slope facing the ascent to Teku'a.*

The steep ascent to the next higher level forms part of the Eastern Eange, the length of which, south of Wady ed Derajeh, exceeds 30 miles, and for more than two-thirds of that length, the range has a descent on the western side, as well as the eastern. In other parts, it is but an acceleration of the slope to a greater or less extent, but it seems to be always sufficient to maintain the continuity of the feature.

The southern part of the middle terrace, or the step between the Eastern and the Middle Eanges, includes several villages at the present time, and some ruins, among both of which are representatives of the very ancient towns of the Hill Country of Judah ; such are Kh. Attir or Jattir, Semua or Eshtemoh, Kurmel or Carmel, Tell Main or Maon, Yuttah or Juttah, Tell es Zif or Ziph, Kh. Gannim or Anim, Beni Nairn or Janum, the latter names, in each case, being biblical.

North of Ziph, the habitable country recedes to the Middle Eange, or westward of it ; for on the east the country is too steep or broken, and only fit for nomadic pasturage. The triangular tracts, enclosed by ranges of hills on the east and west of the Kanan ez Zaferan, on the north of Hebron, are curious contrasts ; the western being a populated plateau, while the eastern is a remarkably steep slope and probably uninhabitable, and only fit for pasture.

The highest plateau which lies between the middle and main ranges is habitable throughout, although the existing villages are sparse and small ; but the evidences of a much larger population in former times, are everywhere, both here and on the western slopes. Its principal features, beginning on the north, are (1) the long Wady el Biar, which skirts the Main Eange from Kh. Breikut, to Urtas on the northern boundary of the group. (2) The widely extended branches of Wady 'Arrub, with which may be noticed the more northerly


 * See ante, page 109.

R 2