Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/69

53 NAHR SUKEREIR. 53

it receives five tributaries which rise along the eastern border to the northward of the main sources. The northernmost is the chief of these. It has its most northern source in the Wady Kaideh which rises close to the Hebron road on the west of Hulhul. But the most easterly source of this tributary is about half a mile further south, on the east side of the Siret el Bella'a (alt. 3,370 feet), a prominent height on the east of the Hebron road. Lower down this tributary skirts Terkumieh and joins Wady el Afranj on the north of Idhna.

This branch has been supposed hitherto, to belong to a drainage system, quite distinct from Wady es Sunt. On leaving the hills at Zeita, instead of running as it does to the north-west to join the Sunt at Ashdod, the Afranj was reputed to cross the plain towards the south-west, and to join the Wady el Hesy at Simsim. See map of Holy Land in Dr. William Smith's Ancient Atlas ; also Lieutenant Van de Velde's map ; and Dr. Eobinson's "Phys. Geog.," 107.

3. The southern branch of the Sukereir basin, rises from south-eastern angle at Dura, and receives tributaries from the margin of the Wady el Afranj north-westward to a point on the west of Beit Jibrin. It is the Wady ed Dawaimeh of former maps, and was so called from a village of that name on the main channel. On the east of this place it receives the drainage from between Dura and Idhna. At el Kubeibeh it receives the drainage from the margin of the Wady el Afranj, between Idhna and Beit Jibrin. From Kubeibeh, it flows north-westward to 'Arak el Menshiyeh, where it receives a branch rising on the west of Dawaimeh, and taking the drainage of the southern edge of the basin from its source to Kh. Ajlan (biblical Eglon). Another affluent rises at Kh. Ajlan, and taking the drainage of the western border up to Kh. Mamin, joins the main channel at Keratiya. At Kera- tiya the main southern branch is called Wady el Ghueit, and runs on north-westward to join the el Afranj at Beit Duras, from whence the junction with the northern channel is made at Jisr Esdud. The passage to the sea then proceeds north- ward for three miles, when it finally turns to the west and

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