"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٣‎١‎١] (٧٣٨/٦٢٧)

616 SOUTHERN BELQA AND ARDH EL-KERAK
The section farther north between the lower Zerqa and
W. ‘Ayun Musa is not very well known ; but before the latter
wadi is reached, the Dead Sea has been left behind, and the
western slope has reassumed importance. For with the abut
ment of the hills on the Jordan valley, instead of on the shore,
their valleys receive the thoroughfares which at all periods of
history have linked Palestine with Moab. By W. ‘Ayun
Musa and W. Hesban run the tracks connecting Jerusalem
with the eastern plateau. That to Madeba passes on the
right of the mamelon of En-Neba (Nebo, alt. 2,643 ft.) from
which a ridge runs west to J. Seyagha, a bold scarped head
land jutting out between W. Jedeid (Heri, Ghuweir) and
W. ‘Ayun Musa, and falling in terraces to the Jordan valley
3,000 ft. below. This hilly country SE. of Jordan consists of
rocky valleys separated by bare limestone ridges, cultivation,
on the higher ground, not appearing until the plateau is
approached ; the slopes, however, are covered with grass in
spring.
Coast
The shore of the Dead Sea between the north end and
W. Zerqa Ma‘in is not now continuously passable, though
in 1874 pack-animals could be taken the whole way, if with
difficulty and by circuitous tracks. The sandstone cliffs rise
steeply, and are broken by small watercourses, in the valleys
of which palm-trees cluster. Here and there it is still possible
to walk for some distance, as near W. Umm Qaleib (2 m. south
of W. Anazeh), where the hills recede from the water’s edge.
In the middle region, between W. Zerqa Ma‘in and W. Mojib,
it is possible to land at the above-mentioned plain of Ez-
Zara. Beyond this point, both N. and S. of W. Mojib, the
cliffs are inaccessible until the northern baj^ enclosed by the
Lisan peninsula is reached. Here begins the first of the
alluvial beaches (ghors), known from the wadi crossing it as
Ghor el-Haditheh; here is the small creek El-Mineh serving as
the ‘ port ’ for shipment to Jerusalem of grain from Kerak
Somewhat to the SE. of this spot are a few rude huts, built