"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [و‎‎٣‎١‎٤] (٧٣٨/٦٣٢)

PHYSICAL FEATURES
621
W. el-Habis, running under that name almost S. for 13 miles.
It then turns W. not far N. of Libb, making a great loop to
the spring ‘Ain ez-Zerqa, 3 m. SSW. of Ma‘In. It is now
perennial, and agains turn S. for 3-4 m., with the name Zerqa
Ma‘in, running in an impassable ravine ; a final westerly bend
takes it down to the Dead Sea through a deep but more open
gorge of sandstone and volcanic rock : in this section there
are many springs, including the well-known hot springs
Hammam ez-Zerqa, about 3 m. from the sea. It issues into
the Dead Sea through a cleft in the dark sandstone not
more than 25 yds. across, the cliffs rising for some 300 ft.
on either side. The rapid stream, still warm from the hot
springs, runs out through boulders and vegetation to a small
beach of gravel, sand and rock, on which are scattered tama
risks, willows and reeds. In 1874 Kersten came down the
r. bank, from the springs to the shore in 3 hrs., the track
being evidently difficult.
W. d-Kerak rises in the fertile tract of Khor el-Mezar near
Jafar, 9-10 miles due S. of Kerak town. In its upper course
it is known as W. es-Senineh and W. el-Hanish ; under the
latter name it deepens its channel, running through banks
150 ft. high. From ‘Ain Jahra, NE. of Kefrabbeh, it is called
W. el-Bawab ; here, from El-Meiseh and the ridge running N.
of that hill, it receives several affluents, after the junction of
which it is perennial, much of its water coming from the large
spring, ‘Ain el-Franj, at the SW. foot of the hill on which
the town stands. It is here known as Seil el-Medabegh :
the right bank is about 330 ft. high, the left only half that
height, rising to a small plateau dominated by Qenan Abu
Jidyan. At the NW. corner of Kerak it is joined on the r. by
W. el-Maliheh. This deep watercourse comes round from the
north and east sides of the hill from a point far to the SSE.,
near Middin. It is first known as W. Sadur el-Maghar,
W. Hawiyeh and W. el-Biyar, receiving on the r. bank
W. el-Bunduqaniyeh and on the 1. bank W. es-Sitt, the
latter known in its upper course as W. el-Mesateb and
W. et-Tewei. After the junction of W. es-Sitt, it for a short