DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10358#0134
MARITIME CITIES OF PALESTINE.
The ranee of Carmel at its
southern base is about seven miles in
width. The Wady el Malih (Valley
of Salt), which enters the plain of
Esdraelon (see page 96) between Tell
Kaimun and El Mahrakah, marks its
southern boundary (see map). The
spurs of Carmel thence merge into the
widening ran^e of low undulating hills
called Belad er Ruheh (the Breezy
Land), composed of soft chalky soil,
which divides the great inland plain
of Esdraelon from the plains of the
coast.
THE MARITIME CITIES AND
PLAINS OF PALESTINE.
Nowhere in Palestine do we re-
cognise so many indications of the
former prosperity of the country as in
the strip of coast-land which stretches
from the headland of Carmel (see
page 88) to the port of Jaffa (see page
131), yet this is now one of its most
neglected and poorly populated dis-
tricts. It does not include one modern
town or village of importance, and its
once-splendid cities and its Crusading
fortresses are in the last stages of
decay or utterly destroyed. Never-
theless, the route is always interesting.
We emerge from the Carmel hills
nearly opposite to the ruins of Athlit
(see page 100). Here the fertile but
scantily cultivated coast-plain is about
two miles in width. It extends north-
ward for eio;ht miles, closed in between
& COLUMNS IN THE SEA, OESAREA,
a narrow rirlcrp nf sanrlQtTinp rr\rh Formed of granite and various kinds of marble ; they are relics of Herod's city which
t>^ U1 o«"m&LUUC 1UL.K, were used by mediaeval builders to strengthen sea walls which have now perished.
76
The ranee of Carmel at its
southern base is about seven miles in
width. The Wady el Malih (Valley
of Salt), which enters the plain of
Esdraelon (see page 96) between Tell
Kaimun and El Mahrakah, marks its
southern boundary (see map). The
spurs of Carmel thence merge into the
widening ran^e of low undulating hills
called Belad er Ruheh (the Breezy
Land), composed of soft chalky soil,
which divides the great inland plain
of Esdraelon from the plains of the
coast.
THE MARITIME CITIES AND
PLAINS OF PALESTINE.
Nowhere in Palestine do we re-
cognise so many indications of the
former prosperity of the country as in
the strip of coast-land which stretches
from the headland of Carmel (see
page 88) to the port of Jaffa (see page
131), yet this is now one of its most
neglected and poorly populated dis-
tricts. It does not include one modern
town or village of importance, and its
once-splendid cities and its Crusading
fortresses are in the last stages of
decay or utterly destroyed. Never-
theless, the route is always interesting.
We emerge from the Carmel hills
nearly opposite to the ruins of Athlit
(see page 100). Here the fertile but
scantily cultivated coast-plain is about
two miles in width. It extends north-
ward for eio;ht miles, closed in between
& COLUMNS IN THE SEA, OESAREA,
a narrow rirlcrp nf sanrlQtTinp rr\rh Formed of granite and various kinds of marble ; they are relics of Herod's city which
t>^ U1 o«"m&LUUC 1UL.K, were used by mediaeval builders to strengthen sea walls which have now perished.
76