The Jordan Valley and Petra . volcanicactivity of no great violence. CHAPTER IV BANIAS AND THE UPPER JORDAN C^SAREA PHILIPPI GEOGRAPHICALLY and geologically theJordan River and its valley are the stran-gest feature of our planet, and they havelinked themselves most wonderfully with the his-tory of our race. We had planned to strike thehead-waters of the river and follow its coursethrough Galilee to its end, crossing the streamat as many points as we possibly could, and notingall the peculiarities of its winding existence. We were led to modify this plan somewhat for anumber of good reasons. It
The Jordan Valley and Petra . volcanicactivity of no great violence. CHAPTER IV BANIAS AND THE UPPER JORDAN C^SAREA PHILIPPI GEOGRAPHICALLY and geologically theJordan River and its valley are the stran-gest feature of our planet, and they havelinked themselves most wonderfully with the his-tory of our race. We had planned to strike thehead-waters of the river and follow its coursethrough Galilee to its end, crossing the streamat as many points as we possibly could, and notingall the peculiarities of its winding existence. We were led to modify this plan somewhat for anumber of good reasons. It was February, andwhile the mud was not specially heavy anywhere,the chance of being caught in a winter storm, be-tween Beisan and Jericho, was not to be lightlytaken with our heavy baggage train. We alsofound the water in the river higher than is usual atthis season, so that fords crossed easily in Octoberwere now impassable. The river still fulfils its ancient function as the Great Divider. This could all be changed by a 86. Banias and the Upper Jordan 89 few bridges, but until these are buik the dwellerson either side will remain strangers, or enemies,to each other. It may be a surprise to many tolearn that in its course of orre hundred miles thereare only three bridges ; one between Merom andthe Sea of Galilee; a second two hours below thesea, and the third at Jericho. There are perhaps adozen fording places, which are passable at certainseasons of the year, but these are known only tothe dwellers in the immediate neighborhood of eachford. Many ancient bridges have been washedaway by the yearly floods or the rarer ruins of some five or six such structures can befound just below the Sea of Galilee. Coming as we did from the seacoast, over Leba-non, and across the Merj Aiyun, we struck first theNahr Bareighit or Flea River, the smallest of thefour sources of the Jordan. Then the Hasbany,which never runs dry, and at this season was a veryrespectable river. Its
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