History of the Terms Palestine and Canaan.--Bounds of Palestine.--Geological History.--Alluvial and Sand Deposits.--General Divisions.--Variety in Physical Contour.--Effects of This Variety.--Openness to the Arabian Desert.--Absence of Navigable Rivers and Good Harbors.--Incentives to Industry.--Incentives to Faith and Moral Culture.--Central and Exposed to Attack on Every Side.--Significance of Palestine's Characteristics. III. THE COAST PLAINS 21 Extent and Character.--Fertility.--Divisions.--Plain of Tyre.--The Plain of Acre.--Carmel.--Plain of Sharon.--The Philistine Plain.--The Shephelah or Lowland. IV. THE PLATEAU OF GALILEE AND THE PLAIN OF ESDRAELON 27 Physical and Political Significance of the Central Plateau.--Natural and Political Bounds.--Its Extent and Natural Divisions.--Physical Characteristics of Upper Galilee.--Its Fertility.--Characteristics of Lower Galilee.--Situation and Bounds of the Plain of Esdraelon.--Plain of Jezreel.--Water Supply and Fertility of Plain of Esdraelon.--Central and Commanding Position.--Importance of the Plain in Palestinian History. V. THE HILLS OF SAMARIA AND JUDAH 34 Character of the Hills of Samaria.--Northeastern Samaria.--Northwestern Samaria.--The View from Mount Ebal.--Bounds and General Characteristics of Southern Samaria.--Southwestern Samaria.--The Central Heights of Judah.--Lack of Water Supply.--Wilderness of Judea.--Western Judah.--Valley of Ajalon.--Wady Ali.--Valley of Sorek.--Valley of Elah.--Valley of Zephathah.--Wady el-Jizâir.--Significance of These Valleys.--The South Country.--Its Northern and Western Divisions.--Its Central and Eastern Divisions.--The Striking Contrasts between Judah and Samaria.--Effect upon Their Inhabitants. VI. THE JORDAN AND DEAD SEA VALLEY 45 Geological History.--Evidences of Volcanic Action.--Natural Divisions.--Mount Hermon.--Source of the Jordan at Banias.--At Tell el-Kadi.--The Two Western Confluents.--The Upper Jordan Valley.--The Rapid Descent to the Sea of Galilee.--The Sea of Galilee.--Its Shores.--From the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.--Character of the Valley.--The Jordan Itself.--Fords of the Lower Jordan.--Ancient Names of the Dead Sea.--Its Unique Characteristics.--Its Eastern Bank.--The Southern End.--The Western Shores.--Grim Associations of the Dead Sea. VII. THE EAST-JORDAN LAND 55