The whole ridge of Carmel is deeply furrowed with rocky ravines, filled with such dense jungle as scarcely to be penetrable. Here jackals, wolves, hyenas, and wild swine make their lairs, and wood cocks find excellent cover ; while in the open forest glades, partridges, quails, and hares sport about. In the sides of the mountain, especially round the convent and overhanging the sea, are great numbers of caves and grottos, formed partly by nature and partly by art and industry in the soft calcareous rock. Carmel at one period swarmed with monks and hermits, who burrowed in these comfortless dens. Curious traditions cling to some of them, in part confirmed by the Greek inscrip tions and names that may still be traced upon their walls. One of them is called the 'Cave of the Sons of the prophets,' and is said to be that in which the pious Obadiah hid the prophets from the fury of the infamous Jezebel (i Kings xviii. 4).
It was probably from his knowledge of these wild retired dells and secret grottos of Carmel, where the persecuted and the outlaw now, as of yore, find a secure asylum, that the prophet Amos wrote, `Though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel I will search and take them out thence' (ix. 3). The limestone strata of Carmel abound in geodes, and beautiful specimens of the fossil echinus. At one place near the town of Haifa great numbers of them lie on the surface of the ground, and the peasantry think they are petrified melons and olives. A singular legend is attached to this spot (Handbook for S. and P., p. 371).
Carmel formed the south-western boundary of Asher (Josh. xix. 26). Its position, projecting into the Mediterranean and towering over it, illustrates the singular expression in Jeremiah (xlvi. 18), Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Cannel by the sea.' But Carmel derives its chief interest from Elijah's sacrifice, and the tragic event which followed it. The exact spot is still identified by local tradition, and preserves in its name, el Ailithrakah, ' the sacrifice,' a memorial of the event. At the eastern extremity of the ridge, where the wooded heights of Carmel sink down into the usual bleakness of the hills of Palestine, is a terrace of natural rock. It is encompassed by dense thickets of evergreens ; and upon it are the remains of an old and massive square structure, built of large hewn stones. This is el-Muhrakah ; and here, in all probability, stood Elijah's altar (1 Kings xviii. 30). The situation and environs answer in every particu lar to the various incidents of the narrative. A
short distance from the terrace is a fountain, whence the water may have been brought, which was poured round Elijah's sacrifice and altar (chap. xviii. 33). The terrace commands a noble view over the whole plain of Esdraelon, from the banks of the Kishon down at the bottom of the steep de clivity, away to the distant hill of Gilboa, at whose base stood the royal city of Jezreel. To the 85c prophets, ranged doubtless on the wide upland sweep, just beneath the terrace, to the multitudes of people, many of whom may have remained on the plain, the altar of Elijah would be in full view, and they could all see, in the evening twilight, that the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water' (ver. 38). The people then, trembling with fear and indignation, seized, at Elijah's bidding, the prophets of Baal , and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.' On the lower decli vities of the mountain is a mound called Tell el Kusis, the Hill of the Priests,' which probably marks the very scene of the execution. May not the present name of the Kishon itself have origi nated in this tragic event—it is called Nab- ebtlio katta, ' the River of Slaughter.' The prophet went up again to the altar, which is near, but not up'', the summit of the mountain. While he prayed, he said to his servant, Go up now, and look toward the sea.' The sea is not visible from the terrace, but a few minutes' ascent leads to a peak which commands its whole expanse. Seven times did the servant climb the height, and at last saw the little cloud like a man's hand' rising out of the sea (Stanley, S. and P., p. 346, sq. ; Van de Velde, i. 324, sq. ; Thomson, p. 483, sq.) Carmel was also the retreat of Elisha, and thus be came the scene of another interesting episode in Scripture history. The prophet was here when the Shunamite's son died. Looking down one after noon, probably from the side of Elijah's altar, he saw her afar of;' hastening towards him on her ass. She paid little regard to the inquiries of his servant sent to meet her, but pressing on past him to the man of God,' she dismounted, threw herself on the ground before him, and caught him by his feet'— just as an Arab mother would do at the present day under similar circumstances. The story is well known (2 Kings iv. 25-37).