Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/272

256 256 THE SHEPHELAH OR PHILTSTIA.

Muleihah and Wady el Hesy. The most westerly of these spurs, throws off several very rugged arms westward to the plain. From Sateh Burber on the main range, a considerable branch extends to the villages of Huj and Nejed in the plain, spreading out its lower features towards Gaza. North of Nejed a group of low hills of a similar character divide the plain between Simsim and Keratiya from the margin of the sea, where the famous city of Ascalon once held its powerful sway. Westward of Sateh Burber, the main range nowhere reaches an altitude of 500 feet, and the undulations do not invite much notice. The same may be said of the slope from the main range towards the Wady esh Sheriah. Judging from the map it exhibits the ordinary aspects of chalk downs. It appears to be passable in every direction, if the numerous tracks over it may be taken as evidence to that effect. The hills to the south of Wady esh Sheriah within the Survey, appear to be of the same character, and seem to be deprived of interest, owing to the obscurity in which the south country or Negeb is still left. That the country will ultimately be surveyed to which Abraham bent his steps in fulfilling to the utmost the divine command, the Gerar which became his home, and the scene of his exemplary confidence in the presence of the Almighty, the Negeb with its interesting events in the life of David, and the southern border of the Promised Land with the long disputed site of Kadesh, and many other places the sites of which Mr. Wilton has so ably discussed, that this portion of the Land of Promise, may'be added to the Survey is ardently desired.

HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY, ST. MARTIN'S LANK.