Tent Work in Palestine: A Record of Discovery and AdventureConder, C. R. (Claude Reignier)
History
Tent Work in Palestine: A Record of Discovery and Adventure
Conder, C. R. (Claude Reignier)
Palestine -- Description and travel
Carmel is best described as a triangular block of mountains, the apex
being the promontory on which the Carmelite monastery stands. The
watershed runs south-east from this point for twelve miles, to the
Mahrakah or “place of burning,” a peak visible from Jaffa in fine
weather: south of which lies Wâdy el Milh, and above that valley a large
volcanic outbreak near the apparent centre of upheaval of the Carmel
ridge. Another centre also exists farther west near Ikzim. The highest
part of the mountain is 1740 feet above the sea at the Druse village of
’Esfia. The Peak of Mahrakah is only 1687 feet high, and the promontory
by the monastery 500, but the slope of the shed is gradual. Long spurs
run out westwards from this ridge and fill up the triangle, their
western extremities having steep slopes above a narrow plain along the
sea-coast. In the valleys among them are two fine springs, and others
smaller. The north-eastern declivity of the ridge is extremely steep,
and fine cliffs occur in places. At the foot of the mountain are
numerous springs feeding the Kishon, which runs beneath, gradually
diverging northwards. The little town of Haifa nestles under the
promontory, by which it is sheltered from the south-west wind, its bay
forming the best harbour on the coast. On the north side of the bay is
St. Jean d’Acre, twelve miles along the curve of the shore from Haifa.
On the narrow plain, between Carmel and the sea, there are also many
places of interest. Sycaminon, Geba of Horsemen, Calamon, Elijah’s
Fountain, the Crusading Capernaum, and the strong and beautiful Château
Pelerin with its little advanced port of Le Detroit. On Carmel itself is
a ruined synagogue, and on the south of the range beneath the inland
cliffs are the fine springs feeding the Crocodile river.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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