Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/66

50 50 THE MEDITERRANEAN WATERSHED.

takes the name Nahr Rubin, from a shrine dedicated to the Patriarch Reuben.

The north-west waterparting of the Nahr Rubin basin runs along the summit of the hills on the north of Wady Surar, from Beit Mahsir, to Abu Shusheh, and beyond Ramleh. From this slope many affluents join Wady es Surar. 1. From the extensive ruins of Rafat, and Surik near Surah, comes a wady which may be identified with Samson's Valley of Sorek, although the Wady Surar itself has hitherto been adopted. Samson's En Hak-kore, is also placed at Ain ek Kharyeh or Ayun el Kharjeh, and his Ramath Lehi at Kh. Ism- Allah.* Mahaneh Dan or the Camp of Dan, is probably at Khurbet Kila or the Ruined Fort. These are on the Wady el Khayeh, which becomes Wady el Baght towards its junction/with Wady Surar. 2. Other wadys fall in below Khuldeh. 3, The slope around the plain of Akir (Ekron), is drained by many channels which all unite near Ekron, and join the Surar at the gap below el Mughar. These include the villages of Sidun, Na'aneh, el Mansurah, and Akir. The Wady Deiran and the Wady Ayun Do, drain the hilly tract between Ramleh and Yebnah, and join the Nahr Rubin about two miles from the sea.

On the south or left bank, the Wady es Surar receives the Wady en Nahir, on the west of Ain Shems. It comes from the southern waterparting at Beit Nettif (alt. 1,517 feet), and passes the remains of Jarmuth and Zanoah. West of the Wady en Nahir, the southern edge of the basin is drained by the Wady el Menakh which descends from el Bureij (alt. 830 feet), Mughullis, Jilia, and Kezazeh to enter the Surar near Shahmeh (alt. 186 feet). Small drains also join the left bank at Katrah, Beshit, and Yebnah. These descend from a group of hills which culminate in a height of 305 feet, and correspond with the Mount Baalah of Joshua xv, 11, on the border of the tribe of Judah, which "went out unto Jabneel (Yabneh)."


 * Conder's "Tent Life," i, 27G-7.