Page:An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine.djvu/97

 Sichem," Gen. xii, 6, he probably followed the road across the head of the Farah Basin. Jacob returning from Laban by way of Mount Gilead with his wives, children, and servants, his herds of cattle, flocks of sheep and goats, camels, and asses, ascended the Fâr'ah from the Jordan, and "came to Shalem, a city of Shechem," Gen. xxxiii, 18. Benhadad the Syrian, fleeing from his siege of Samaria, panic-stricken by the Almighty, hurried down the Fâr'ah Valley, "and lo! all the way was full of garments and vessels which the Syrians cast away in their haste," 2 Kings vii.



This is the Wady el Ahmar of Van de Velde, "Sinai and Palestine," ii, 315; "Memoirs," 123. Robinson calls it Wady Ahmar, "Bib. Res." iii, 294. It is better known in connection with Wady Fusail, a minor branch of the basin, containing the site of Phasaëlis. Its general outline may be compared to a right angled triangle, with-the southern boundary for its base, dividing it from the basin of Wady el Ajah which falls into the Jordan next to this on the south. The southern boundary passes from the Jordan through el Arâka, Kh. Jibeit (alt. 2,146 feet), and el Mugheir (alt. 2,246 feet), to the eastern edge of Merj Sia, a small natural basin with no outlet. The length is about eleven miles.

The perpendicular of the triangle forms the western boundary, running north and south with some small sinuosities; on this side also the basin is coterminous with the 'Auja basin, but here it is quite another 'Auja from the 'Aujah on the south, and is indeed the great basin of Nahr el 'Auja, which falls into the Mediterranean Sea on the north of Jaffa. The slight difference in spelling may be unintentional. The western boundary is traced from Merj Sia, along a ridge between Istuna and Kulason, and east of the sources of Wady Seilun, then to about midway between Jalûd and Domeh, and onwards to a point nearer to Kusrah than to Mejdel Beni Fâdl; further north it crosses Akrabeh, and passes north-west of Yanun, to the mountain of el Jeddua 