KEREK.
390
(), Meraa (4e), and Betra, where is a heap of stones on the
foot of a high hill, distant from Kerek te the southward and westward ¬
about five hours.
Several Wadys descend from the mountains of Kerekinto the plain
on the shore of the Dead sea, and are there lost, either in the sands
or in the fields of the peasants who cultivate the plain, none of them
reaching the lake itself in the summer. To the S. of Modjeb is
the Seyl Djerra (), and farther south, Wady Beni Hammad
(egol). In the valley of this river, perhaps the Zared of
Scripture, are hot-wells, with some ruined buildings near them,
about five hours from Kerek, in a northern direction. Next follow
Seyl el Kerek, Wady el Draah (,), Seyl Assal (e J),
perhaps Assan, which rises nearer Ketherabba ; El Nemeyra (),
coming from Oerak; Wady Khanzyre (,), and El Ahhsa,
a river which divides the territory of Kerek from the district to the
S. of it, called El Djebel.
Not having had an opportunity of descending to the borders of
the Dead sea, I shall subjoin here a few notes which I collected
from the people of Kerek. I have since been informed that M.
Seetzen, the most indefatigable traveller that ever visited Syria,
has made the complete tour of the Dead sea ; I doubt not that he
has made many interesting discoveries in natural history.
The mountains which inclose the Ghor, or valley of the Jordan,
open considerably at the northern extremity of the Dead sea, and
encompassing it on the W. and E. sides approach again at its S. extremity, ¬
leaving only a narrow plain between them. The plain on the
west side, between the sea and the mountains, is covered with sand,
and is unfit for cultivation ; but on the E. side, and especially towards ¬
the S. extremity, where it continues to bear the appellation of
El Ghor („), the plain is in many places very fertile. Its breadth
