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MR. J. Ball's spicilegittm: flor^ MAROcciL:^^^. 287 



After three days passed at Tangier, during which we made an 

 excursion to Cape Spartel, and thence along the Atlantic coast 

 to the so-called Cave of Hercules, we started for Tetuan, which 

 we reached early on the 12th of April. On the following day 

 we ascended the highest of the picturesque mountains that enclose 

 the verdant valley of Tetuan, called Beni Hosmar, the same which 

 had been visited more than forty years before by the late Mr. 

 . Webb. Although the season was not yet sufficiently advanced 

 we collected nearly all the species found by our predecessor, with 

 several others of much interest. After another day well spent on 

 i the rocky ground in the immediate neighbourhood of the city, we 



started on the 15lh to ride along the coast to Ceuta, thei-eby 

 adding some additional species to our rapidly growing collections. 

 The botanical exploration of the coast between Ceuta and Tan- 

 gier, on the seaward slopes of the Angera Mountains, would be of 

 great interest ; and until this has been effected it will not be pos- 

 sible to say whether Rhododendron ponticum, HeliantJiemum last* 

 anthum, and several other remarkable species now known on the 

 northern side of the Straits of Gibraltar are really absent from 

 the southern shores. The country, however, is considered too 

 unsafe, especially for travellers starting from Ceuta, and we tra- 

 versed the Straits in the felucca, by which the garrison and popu- 

 lation of Ceuta keep up communication with Algeciras. Two 

 days' unexpected detention on the Spanish side M^as not ill em- 

 ployed in a survey of the spring vegetation of the hills above 

 Algeciras and the rock of Gibraltar. Eeturning to Tangier 

 we were detained two days more, which were employed in 

 putting in order and further increasing our collections. Mr. 

 Maw, who had returned direct from Tetuan to Tangier, made in 

 the interval two fruitful excursions to some swampy brackish 

 lakes about 14 miles S.S.W. of the latter city. 



Having at length received the necessary letter from the Sultan 

 to the Governor of Mogador, we left Tangier on the 20th of April 

 in the French steamer * Yerite,' bound for the Atlantic ports of 

 Marocco and the Canary Islands. On the following day we lay 

 off Eabat, but, owing to the heavy swell, were unable to land. On 

 the following day, however, we landed at Casa Blanca, or Dar el 

 .Beida, a place not mentioned by any of the botanists who have 

 visited the coast Having made a tolerably large collection on 

 the bare hills near Casa Blanca, and been hospitably received by 

 Mr. Dunuis. the British vice-consul, we continued our voyage to 



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