"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٧‎٧] (٧٣٨/٣٥٩)

348 COUNTRY EAST OF JEBEL ANSARlYEH
makes it appear to be higher than it is. The most prominent
peak is Tell Nebi Ayyub, alt. 2,955 ft., standing on the western
side of the mountain ; Tell Sheikh Tuman, alt. 2,790 ft.,
stands farther S.; and Khirbet Hass, alt. 2,104 ft., is some
distance to SE.
The formation of J. Riha is limestone with a rocky semi-
desert surface not so rugged or precipitous and less barren
than the northern group of ‘Ala and Barisheh. There are
several broad and level arable tracts in the hills where olive
trees, vines, and sparse crops of grain are raised, and there
are olive plantations wherever the soil will bear. The district
on the NW. between Tell Nebi Ayyub and the village of Riha,
is more fertile than the other parts.
Numerous ruins of ancient cities with oil and wine presses,
now entirely unoccupied, are scattered about. The only
important villages in the locality occupy prominent heights:
these are Riha, alt. 1,971 ft., on the northern verge ; El-Bara,
alt. 2,138 ft., in the centre ; and Hass, alt. 1,995 ft., on the S.
‘Alala .—The name given to this mountain distinguishes it
from J. el-‘Ala of the northern group. It lies immediately
E. of Hama on a NW. and SE. axis, and is bounded by
well defined limits. From Selemiyeh at its SE. angle, it
runs W. then NW., overlooking the Orontes. Its eastern
slopes rise from the marshy plain ; on the N. it rises very
gradually ; on all the other sides it is precipitous. The
top is a rolling plateau which maintains similar physical
characteristics throughout, and varies in altitude from 1,300 ft.
on the N. and E., to 1,600 ft. on the SW. In this latter part
the wadis are more deep and precipitous than on the N., where
they become broad and shallow. The plateau is of basalt
overlying a stratum of crumbly calcareous limestone. Where
the basalt soil is deep the surface is loose and treacherous,
difficult to traverse in summer and impassable in winter ;
where the limestone is closer to the surface, as happens some
times on the crests, the ground is firm but of little value for
cultivation. The surface generally is very fertile and is
dotted with small villages which occupy ancient sites and,