Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/268

252 252 THE SHEPHELAH OR PHILISTIA.

west, where the drainage is received by a valley, generally parallel to Wady en Jtfajil, and also running northward to Wady es Stirar. At the head of the valley is Beit Nettif (alt. 1,517 feet) with a fine view ; in the centre is Beit el Jemal ; and at its outfall is 'Am Shems (alt. 917 feet), the Beth Shemesh of Scripture (1 Sam. vi, 9-20).

The heights on the west of the valley also extend from the Sunt to the Surar. But these heights throw off spurs and ranges to the westward. The southern part descends in short spurs to Wady es Sunt where the wady makes two great bends to the north.

Then a long range is thrown off to the west, beginning on the south of Khurbet el Kheisham (alt. 1,245 feet), and having on its summit the village of Mughullis and Kh. el Mensiyeh, where the range bends round to the north, having the village of Dhennebbeh on its western flank, which descends to the plain. On the north of Dhennebbeh, the range is indeed prolonged westward across the plain at a Jow elevation, but sufficient to make it the continuation of the waterparting between the basins of Nahr Eubin and Nahr Sukereir, which entered this division at Beit Nettif. From its. origin to Kh. el Menshiyeh the range skirts the right bank of Wady es Sunt and divides it from Wady el Menakh, at the. head of which is the village of el Bureij (alt. 830 feet).

North of Khurbet el Kheisham, another range is extended to the west, between Wady el Menakh and Wady es Surar. It terminates on the plain where the wady enters it.

III.

The hills between Wady es Sunt and Wady el Afranj, now come under notice. They arise on the east in a range which originates between the head of Wady es Sur and Wady el Afranj. The range forms the left bank of Wady es Sur, which is a part of the eastern boundary line of the Shephelah, following it northward till the Sur joins the Wady Musurr, and from the union proceeds Wady es Sunt. The