'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎512] (601/905)

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the decapolis.
[chap. xx.
the neighbourhood are several living wells, and many caverns ;
also the remains of an aqueduct. E.S.E. is the ruined
Om-ei-Djemai. town of Om-el-Djemal, and farther on that of Deir Abu
Salami: four hours southward of Remtha 1 is the castle of
Fodhein, or Mesrak; and one day's journey from thence is
Kalat-Zerka, in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. of that name, which, as was said,
forms the southern limits of the Haouran.
Decapoiis. The country lying westward of the latter, and stretching
northward from the river Zerka, or Jabok, to a little beyond
the Jarmuk, represents the ancient districts of Galaaditis,
Sueta, and part of Batanea; these, together, nearly comprise
the territory of the Decapoiis, and the land of Gilead; part
of which was allotted to Gad, and the remainder to the half-
tribe of Manasseh.
Features of the Near its western limits, from north to south, are the small
country. mountain districts of El Kefarat, El Kura, Jebel Ajlun, and
Moerad; and, at the eastern side, those of Belad, Ebad-el-
Bottein, Belad Beni Obeid, Ez Zueit, Jebel Zerka, and Ard-
el-Bethinyeh. These tracts consist of low chains of rounded
mountains, separated by fine valleys, watered by perennial
streams. Towards the north, the latter flow nearly east and
west, but more southward they incline W.S.W., terminating,
like the preceding, in the valley of the Jordan ; whilst the
winter streams near the extremity flow southward into the
valley of the Zerka or Jabok. The highest portions of the
mountain ranges are towards the centre, about Jabesh Gilead,
Jebel Ajlun, and, towards the north, over-hanging the valley
of the Jarmuk. Occasionally the slopes are bare, but in
general they are very picturesque, being covered with syca
more, the wild olive, acacia, oak, and other trees, with under
wood of arbutus, myrtle, and oleander, well stocked with
nightingales.
inhabitants. Bedawins, Druses, Turks, and Christians, compose the in
habitants; some in troglodyte dwellings, and the remainder
occupying tents, towns, and villages. The last are roughly
built of rubble masonry or clay, and ditfer but little from
1 Probably Amathus.—Jos., Ant., lib. I., c. vi., s. 2.