The valleys of Galilee ere generally small, but beautifully wooded. The valley of Abilene lies beyond the hills which skirt the coast between Cape Nakhoora and Acre. South-east of this is the valley of Zebulon, between 3 and 4 miles long by 1 mile broad, which contains some of the finest pasturage in the whole country. To the east of this, and about the same length, is the vale of Sepphoris. The vale of Nazareth is a kind of hollow inclosed by mountains on every side, and abounds with fig-trees and gardens. Behind the hills which bound the north-western part of the Lake of Gennesareth is an exten sive plain, forming a rich pasture-ground, which is much frequented by the Bedouins. It is called Dothau, from a village of that name.
On the borders of Galilee and Samaria lies the great plain of Esdraelon, called in Scripture the plain of Megiddo, and the valley of Jezreel. It is exceedingly fertile, and well adapted for growing corn. It has been the scene of some of the most remarkable battles recorded in the Jewish history, and of great battles in later times. Samaria is less mountainous than either Galilee or Judas's; it is beautifully wooded, snd full of fertile plains. The valley of Jennin—through which lies the common route from Galilee to the city of Samaria—is about 13 miles long and 2 miles in its extreme width. About 4 miles south of Samaria is the vale of Shechem, between the moun tains of Ebal and Gerizim, which is said to be watered by 365 springs.
It opens out into a very fine plain which leads into the valley of Leban, after traversing which we enter into the kingdom of Judaea. This, in its present state, is the least fertile part of all Palestine, being full of rugged mountains, and deficient in water and soil. The stony valley of Bethel lies about S miles to the north of Jerusalem. The valley of Jeremiah, in the northezast of Judea, is long and sterile. It is connected by a narrow pass with the valley of Mull, which is pointed out by tradition as the scene of Davitra victory over Coliah. This is one of the 'dementedparts of Judosa. East of Jerusalem lies the valley of Jehoshnphat. [Jeacs.stess.) To the south of Jerusalem on the read to Bethlehem hes the valley of Rephnim, which is upwards of 6 miles long. Near Ilebron is the valley of Mature, where was the sepulchre of Abraham. South of Jerusalem is the vale of Sorel.-, about 40 tulles long, celebrated for its grapes and wine. Between the Dead Sea and the centre of Judaea lie the deserts of St Saba and Engeddi. •
Ou the east side of the Jordan lie the rich pesturedaude of Argob and Itaehan, extending from Mount Ilermon to the river Yarmak, a few miles south of the Lake of Gennesareth. South of this was the land of Gilead, the limits of which are not precisely defined. but it may be considered as lying between the rivers Yartual and Jabbok. It is mountainous, and more so in the northern than in the southern part. Some portions of it are very fertile, and others are beautifully wooded. South of the Jabbok was the land of Moab, of which only a small part, that namely to the north of the Anton, belonged to Palestine. This portion was occupied by the Amorites when the Israelites took ioasession of the country.
The south of Palestine ie skirted by the great sandy desert which extends to Egypt and Sinai. It bears various names, of which that of the Desert of Paran seems to be used in the widest extent.
Lakes and Rirers.—There are no considerable rivers on the sea coast of Palestine, the greater number of the streams being only mountain torrents which flow down from the hills that run parallel to the coast. The Lanttes (' Litany') is not, strictly speaking, a river of Palestine. It rises at the base of the Lebanon Mountains in the neighbourhood of Ilaalbec, and flows in a south-westerly course to the Mediterranean, into %%Lich it falls a little to the north of The most important river of Palestine is the Jordan, which rues nearly in the latitude of Tyre, and flows southward through the valley between the two great mountain ranges already noticed, and, after traversing the lakes of Semechonitie (Bahr-el-Huleh) and Gen nesareth, falls into the Dead Sea. Its source, or what is generally considered to bo its source, is a cave on the north-east side of the village of Panias, or Bathes. The true source however seems to be stream which rises in the hill of Tel-el-Kadi, about 3 miles northeast of Panine After a course of about 15 miles, the river rune into the labrel•Holoh, the waters of Marotta of the Old Testament, and the Lake Samochonitis of Josephus. The size of this lake varies with the season of the year. Josephus makes it 7 miles long by half that breadth, which appears to be about the average size. The reeds which are used for writing grow on its margin. There are numerous water fowl upon it, and it abounds in fish. The waters are muddy, and are said to be unwholesome.