'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎341] (450/496)

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No mention of Hai or Ai occurs in Abulfeda or the other Arabian
geographers whose works I have had an opportunity of consulting; and
its site appears to have been entirely neglected by European travellers,
not excepting the sagacious Pococke, and accurate Maundrell; although
its position, as well as that of Bethel, had been most accurately describ
ed, as we have just seen. The principal cause of this omission of modem
travellers appears to have originated in their following the great beaten
track southerly from Jerusalem to Nabalus and Damascus, instead of
taking the more easterly route, prophetically described by Isaiah as that
of the triumphant progress of Sennacherib towards Jerusalem, by Ana-
thoth, Michmash, &c., not far from which, between Bethel and Jericho,
the ruins lie.
Dr. Bobinson and Mr. Smith, indeed, did take this easterly route :
but the real site of Hai escaped them, although they very properly
searched diligently for it. They state that, “ after all our search, we
could come to no other result than to assign as the probable site of Ai
the place with ruins just south of Deir Diwan.” These ruins, as
accurately described, consist of “ foundations of large hewn stones, in no
great number, on alow hill,” among which were picked up “small tesserae,
of mosaic work, such as are often found around Jerusalem.” Some
excavated tombs were found in the valley to the east of the hill; and
“three reservoirs, dug mostly out of the rock, and bearing marks of
antiquity,” in the western valley. The largest, or northern reservoir,
measured 110 feet by thirty-two feet, and six feet deep. The two
others were deeper, but not so long or broad. The lower and deeper
reservoir is fifteen feet deep.
The site of the ruins, to which no modern name has been assigned by
these travellers, is described as an hour distant from Bethel, but by
their map the direct distance is just two miles south of Deir Diwan.
My Arab guides gave these ruins the name of Khivb q t-al-Kctdin ch,
* \ £> j?**. El-Kadireh appears as a village in the map, imme
diately to the N. W. of the ruins. On the north is the deep Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. of
El-Matyah, and towards the S. W. are other small Wadis.
Dr. Bobinson concludes by saying u that all these circumstances in-
tundem contra aquilonem in raontanis a latere aquilonari Quarentene, e»t Hay civt-
tas quam expugnavit Josue rege interfecto, ut dicitur Josue Yl. e . 1 ^, a
unam leucam fere contra aquilonem sed aliquantulum declinando a occi ei fj jeni
est Bethel civitas quae quondam Lusa dicebatur, in Tribu Benjamin, ( ley en
bach, Itin. Hierosol. Fol. 33.)