'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎192v] (389/738)

378 LEBANON, ANTI-LEBANON, DAMASCUS PLAIN
The broken valley separating the commencement of the chain
from Hermon on the E. carries the road from Rasheya to
Yunta and, here, there is a circular plain between steep ridges,
on the eastern verge of which lies the large village of Kefr Quq.
This plain is dry in summer and although not very fertile, is
cultivated : in winter it becomes a marshy lake fed by
subterranean sources which become active after heavy rains
quickly submerging the whole area; the water subsides
through fissures on the north-west and south-east.
Beyond W. el-Qarn rises J. Zebdani, reaching a general
elevation of almost 6,000 ft. and extending in an unbroken
stretch to W. Yafufeh. Its eastern flank is rocky and very
rugged, and the top is broken and jagged. The northern
portion is not so lofty and the sides have a gradual slope
toward W. Yafufeh. Besides the name Zebdani, the
mountain bears that of ‘Ain Hawar, or of Sarghaya, or of the
various villages on its flanks. It is separated from the parallel
chain on the east by a wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. bearing the names of various
villages, and by the plain of Zebdani. This latter measures
8 miles by 3 miles, diminishing to a width of 11 miles at the
southern extremity where the Barada gorge enters and breaks
eastward through the great chain J. esh-Sharqi. At the
northern end of the plain is the large and flourishing village
of Zebdani, alt. 3,950 ft., and near it is a small ‘ sink ’ with
a lake which is the principal source of the Barada. Water
is abundant and cultivation luxuriant; the fruit orchards,
particularly the apple, are famous throughout Syria. North
ward of the plain the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. opens out into the elevated plain
of Sarghaya, alt. 4,600 ft., measuring 3 miles by 1 mile ;
a village of the same name lies at its north-eastern end on
the watershed separating the waters which flow to the Litani
and the Barada. On the south-west the slopes fall to Sahel
Jedeideh, a plain about 2 miles wide, running about 6 miles
northward from the mouth of W. el-Qarn.
W. Yafufeh is a narrow ravine with steep sides covered
in parts with oak and plane trees and carries the chief northern
affluent of the Litani. The western slope generally is bleak