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Besides the above journey I made an excursion in 1859 on the summit of Carmel itself.
Leaving the Convent, which is at the western termination of the mountain, we proceeded along the top of its main ridge to the opposite extremity, the Mohhrakah, undoubtedly the locality of Elijah’s miraculous sacrifice in presence of King Ahab with the priests of Baal and of the groves; thence we
returned to encamp for a time at the cleanly Druse village of ’Esfia; after which a few hours’ ride westwards led us by the village of Dâliet el Carmel, [238] also inhabited by Druses, to the romantic ’Ain ez Zera’ah and over the sites of ruined places, Doomeen, Shelâleh, and Lubieh, where the hewn stones lying scattered over the ground were indications of much better buildings than those of modern villages.
Then down the long and wearisome descent to Teeri on the sea-coast south of Caiffa.
For topographical purposes chiefly, let me give an outline of a few other journeys made about the same neighbourhood.
1. FROM SAFED TO CARMEL.
Sept. 1846.
Going in the direction of the sea, that is, from Naphtali downwards into Zebulon, we crossed westwards the Jebel Rama, a long hilly range ending in the south at Rama, and richly wooded, but to our surprise there were numerous fires left by the people to consume trees and large shrubs at discretion, for the making of charcoal. Fortunately for us there was no wind blowing, but several times as
the fiery ashes had been drifted upon the road, our horses had no choice but to step into them. On that eminence I picked up specimens of Geodes which abound there, being lumps resembling fruits outside, but when broken found to be a crust of bright spar, and hollow in the centre; some of these were remarkably large. The hills were fragrant with wild herbs, and the views from them delightful.