347
EL MEYSERA.
July 3d.—We departed from Abou Obeida long before sun-rise,
proceeding from thence in a more western direction. In a quarter
of an hour we passed the northern branch of the river El Zerka,
near a mill, which was at work. In one hour we passed the principal -
stream, a small river, which empties itself into the Jordan
about one hour and a half to the S. W. of the spot where it issues
from the mountain. Its banks are overgrown with Defle (Solanum -
furiosum). On the other side of the Zerka we ascended the
mountain by a steep acclivity, but the road, from being much
frequented, is tolerably good. The mountain consists of calcareous ¬
rock, with layers of various coloured sand-stone, and large
blocks of the black Haouran stone, or basalt, which forms a principal ¬
feature in the mineralogy of Eastern Syria. In two hours
and three quarters we arrived at the top of the mountain, from
whence Abou Obeida bore N. N. W. Here we had a fine view
over the valley below.
On the west side of the Jordan, between the river and the mountains ¬
of Nablous, I remarked a chain of low calcareous rocky
heights which begin at about three hours north of Abou Obeida,
and continue for several hours distance to the S. of that place on
the opposite side of the river. The highest point of Djebel Nablous ¬
bore N. W.; the direction of Nablous itself was pointed out
to me as W. N. W. On the summit where we stood are some
large heaps of hewn stones, and several ruined walls, with the frag.
ments of three large columns. The Arabs call the spot El Meysera -
(). The Zerka, or Jabock of the Scriptures, divides
the district of Moerad from the country called El Belka (UJ1).
The highest summit of the mountains of Moerad seems to be considerably ¬
higher than any part of the mountains of Belka. From
Meysera the road continues over an uneven tract, along the summit
of the lower ridge of mountains which form the northern limits of
