Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/43

27 NAHR EL MUKUTT'A. 27

delineated by the Palestine Exploration Survey, as to lay bare its topographical features with a precision of detail, which the most attentive of previous travellers and surveyors could not have contemplated, and certainly did not achieve. As Mount Carmel is a special favourite and of limited extent, its treatment will be made more complete than other pa,rts. From the foot of Tell Kaimun, paths ascend to the ridge of Carmel by the Wady el Milh, and also by el Mahrakah. The ridge road extends through Esfia to the convent, all along the summit. Northward up to Jelameh the watercourses of this face of Carmel are precipitous and there are no paths. At Jelameh, there is a zigzag track up to the village of Eslia on the ridge (alt. 1,742 feet). Erom Esfia the Wady esh Shomariyeh has an oblique and therefore easier drop into the Mukutt'a. The Wady abu Haiyeh is the next on the north, and descends from the south side of Jebel 'Akkara (alt. 1,715 feet). About a mile from Esfia, a path descends from the ridge over Jebel 'Akkara to the foot of the mountain at Belled esh Sheikh. The northern side of Jebel 'Akkara is drained by Khallet (Eavine) en Nury, which runs north-westwards for two miles in a valley parallel with the main ridge of Carmel, when it breaks through a gap in an outer ridge, and descends north-eastward, through Wady et Tabil, to the Ashlul el Wawy, an affluent of Mukutt'a, the latter ceasing to be the direct recipient of the mountain wadys, north of the village of Yajur. The elevated valley or ravine of en Nury is pro- longed for a third mile parallel with the ridge up to Eas ez Zelaka (alt. 1,535 feet). At Eas ez Zelaka a path descends from the ridge through this valley and Wady et Tabil to Belled esh Sheikh. The drainage of this prolongation is south- eastward, in direct opposition to that of the other part of the valley, which it joins before entering the gap in the outer ridge, on its descent to Wady et Tabil.

Besides Wady et Tabil, the Ashlul (cascades) el Wawy receives some short channels near the village of Belled esh Sheikh, and also the Wady Hawasah and another unnamed wady from the north side of Eas ez Zelaka. It becomes a