South of the Yarmuk to the Jabbok and from the -Tabbok to the Arnon. a total distance of nearly 100 miles, lie ancient Gilead and the Plains of Moab. identical with the Pema of New Testament times. The lava soil characteristic of the region north of the Yarinuk is not found here. Basalt gives place to limestone, and the soil. though fairly we]] watered, is of inferior fertility. It is consequently he fitted for agriculture, but has ever been famous for its pasturage. It is a high rolling plateau broken only by the larger wadies running to the Jordan. North Gilead (modern Ajlun, north of the lab ) is not so high as South Gilead and the Plains of _Moab (the modern el-Belka), but nowe heavily wooded and better supplied with water. The most southern portion, south of the Amnon, and the home of ancient Si nab, is even more barren and dry, yet still suitable for pasturage.
Palestine is somewhat deficient in its water supply. During the winter there are heavy rains, but the numberless wadies, with few exceptions, are dry in the summer or dry sea son. Where the hard limestone is near the surface, at the foot of high hills, perennial springs are numerous. This is mainly true of Northern and Central Palestine, while in Judah and on the plateau of Southern Gilead and .1Ioab springs are rare. The Jordan is the only con siderable stream. Its sources are perennial springs mostly flowing from the slopes of Mount Hermon. Of these the most famous is that near Banias, the ancient Paneas, near the site of Dan, where the stream issues forth from a large cave. The Jordan is supplied farther down by several perennial affluents, of which the Yarnink, the Wady el-Arab, and the Jabhok on the east, and the Nahr (in the Valley of Jezreel) and the Wady Farah on the west are the most important. On the western slope the
Leontes at the extreme north, the Kishon (which drains the great Plain of Esdraelon), and the Zerka or Crocodile River are perennial.
In the whole country there are but two sea sons in the year. The rainy, or 'winter' season, begins in October November with the 'early rain.' This softens the parched and baked soil and en ables the farmers to plow. The rain, with occasional snows on the mountains. falls more or less continuously until February. During February sowing takes place. Some weeks later (March-April) the so-called 'latter' rain is in dispensable to the well-being of the now growing crops, By May the rains are over, and the long hot summer (May to October) begins. The aver age annual rainfall is 21 inches. The different elevation of the several zones of Palestine causes a great variety in the temperature and other conditions. When it is pleasantly cool on the uplands it is unendurably hot in the Jordan Valley a few miles away. The highlands are dry and salubrious, the lowlands moist and op pressive. The mean annual temperature of the uplands is 63°, with an average maximum of 100° and an average min i11111111 of 34°. The pre vailing winds are from the sea, northwest in S11111111er, west or southwest in winter. The 1101 (sirocco) carrying clouds of dust from the deserts east and south often inflict damage and severe discomfort.