HAIFA, a city of Palestine at the foot of Mt. Carmel and south of the Bay of Acre, anc. Sycaminum. Haifa's place in his tory is but small. It was completely overshadowed by Acre. The modern town lies east of the old. With a roadstead free from reefs and a good anchorage for ships, it promises to become the chief seaport of Palestine. The building of a harbour with depth for the greatest vessels is mooted. It is the principal harbour of export for Hauran wheat and the products of Trans-Jordania, and has railway connection with both Damascus and Egypt. Even now (1928) it has a greater import trade than Jaffa. The popu lation (main.y Arabic speaking) is about 3 5,00o and includes a flourishing German colony. Haifa has a large flour mill and cement and soap factories. Archaeologically it has little of interest to offer. (E. Ro.)