DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10357#0408
372
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
EL KUWEH, THE NATURAL BRIDGE OVER THE LITANY.
It is formed of a number of fallen rocks, which have left a passage of about one hundred
feet in height for the stream below.
at a height of more than one hun-
dred feet above the water. The
noise of the river below us, plunging
alone the bed of its stransfe channel,
is almost deafening. About us,
flowers and creeping plants find
nourishment in the seams of the
rocks, and hide from view some of
the most jagged points and roughest
features of the chasm. From the
bridge it is possible to descend to
the bed of the stream, but the effort
is hazardous, and no special advan-
tage is gained by it. Impracticable
as it may appear, the regular road
from this region and the north
crosses this bridge, and leads thence
to Jezzin and other places in the
Lebanon. Along the face of these
cliffs one notices many caverns that
open deep into the mountain-side,
and some of them are said to be in
part artificial, and to have been the
abode of robbers. Another fine
natural bridge, though not equal to
this in the scenery which surrounds
it, exists near Afka, the ancient
Aphek, in the Lebanon mountains ;
and we ourselves have brought to
light one east of the Jordan, in the
Gilead hills, which spans a great
wady, and is one hundred feet high
and three hundred feet long.
The journey from Hasbeiya to
Rasheiya will occupy about six
hours, although the distance in a
straight line is not more than twelve
miles. In this case the most direct
route is the most feasible one, and
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
EL KUWEH, THE NATURAL BRIDGE OVER THE LITANY.
It is formed of a number of fallen rocks, which have left a passage of about one hundred
feet in height for the stream below.
at a height of more than one hun-
dred feet above the water. The
noise of the river below us, plunging
alone the bed of its stransfe channel,
is almost deafening. About us,
flowers and creeping plants find
nourishment in the seams of the
rocks, and hide from view some of
the most jagged points and roughest
features of the chasm. From the
bridge it is possible to descend to
the bed of the stream, but the effort
is hazardous, and no special advan-
tage is gained by it. Impracticable
as it may appear, the regular road
from this region and the north
crosses this bridge, and leads thence
to Jezzin and other places in the
Lebanon. Along the face of these
cliffs one notices many caverns that
open deep into the mountain-side,
and some of them are said to be in
part artificial, and to have been the
abode of robbers. Another fine
natural bridge, though not equal to
this in the scenery which surrounds
it, exists near Afka, the ancient
Aphek, in the Lebanon mountains ;
and we ourselves have brought to
light one east of the Jordan, in the
Gilead hills, which spans a great
wady, and is one hundred feet high
and three hundred feet long.
The journey from Hasbeiya to
Rasheiya will occupy about six
hours, although the distance in a
straight line is not more than twelve
miles. In this case the most direct
route is the most feasible one, and