Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/29

 WADY EL HUBEISHIYEH. 13

Hubeishiyeh includes the outlet into the sea on the north of Tyre, together with the central and southern parts of the basin. The northern part is watered by the Wady el Humraniyeh and its tributaries.

The Hubeishiyeh is so named from the sea to the village of Jilu, where it receives the drainage of the chief part of the centre of the basin, which lies between Kefr Dunin and Mezr'ah. This part is further distinguished by the villages of Dibal, Teir Zinbeh, Kefr Dunin, Juweiya, Mujeidil, and Deir Kantara. It is drained by four parallel valleys and their branches, which unite on the east of Jilu.

From Jilu upwards, and beyond its confluence with the Wady el Ma, the main channel is called Wady Ashur. About two miles south of Jilu, the Ashur receives a small affluent from the east of Mezr'ah, which completes the central part of this basin.

The Wady Ashur is prolonged southward beyond Deir Amis, so as to make it the recipient of Wady el Ma. Still it is the latter wady which should be considered as the main stream or channel. For south of Deir Amis, the Ashur derives its supply from two channels and their branches which embrace the drainage between Kh. el Jelameh (alt. 1,560 feet), and Kh. el Yadhun (alt. 2,512 feet), including the village of Kefrah. This area may be regarded as an equilateral triangle with each of its sides about three miles in length.

The Wady el Ma is the outlet of an area much more considerable and remarkable. To its outlet at Deir Amis, the Wady el Ma descends from the east, through a deep gorge with a very winding course, which leads up to the village of Safed el Battikh (alt. 2,220 feet). The direct distance is about five miles, increased to seven miles by the windings. This represents the length of the southern division of the basin, its breadth varying from two to four miles.

At Safed el Battikh, the main channel conies down from the north-east corner of a parallelogram, extending in length