290 MR. J. BALL’S SPICILEGIUM FLORHE MAROCCANZE. 
the highest part of the chain, this was taken to mean the ascent 
of at least one ofthe higher summits. On the 13th we followed 
a steep and difficult track, amid a vegetation mainly new to us, 
—where it was tantalizing to be content with a specimen or two 
that could be snatched while pressing onward—and some time 
atter midday reached the last village, called Arround, standing at 
nearly 7000 feet above the sea-level, a short distance beyond a 
barrier partly composed of rock and partly of ancient moraine, the 
only undoubted moraine seen by us in the Atlas. Here the 
scenery assumed a singularly stern character. ‘The floor of the 
valley extends for some way nearly level, and then slopes gradu- 
ally upward, enclosed on every side but one by steep and rugged 
peaks, nearly bare of snow. But in the hoilows and recesses of the 
valley, at no great height above the village, snow lay in various 
directions ; and towards one snow-bed our guide, in accordance 
with his promise, led us. Although many plants were not yet in 
flower, we found at every step something of engrossing interest— 
among the novelties that which most struck us being the curious 
Chrysanthemum with scarious involucre, which I have called Chry- 
santhemum Catananche. Our return to our camp in the lower valley 
in great part by night, and in almost pitch darkness, was difficult 
and even somewhat dangerous. 
Our object now was to persuade the Sheik to let us sleep at the 
village of Arround, whence we felt that we could in one way or 
other attain the higher region, and thus accomplish in some 
measure the main object of our journey. After some negotiation 
this plan was arranged; and on the 15th of May, before the sun 
had well risen, we started from Arround with a very threatening 
sky, determined to ascend as far as might be possible. Fortu- 
nately the Sheik did not insist onaccompanying us, but appointed 
two guides with injunctions not to let us go beyond a small stone 
hut at the base of the ascent to the pass of Tagherot. It should 
have been stated that on our first visit two days before, we ascer- 
tained that a somewhat frequented track leads from the head of 
Ait Mesan to the upper part of the Sous valley on the opposite 
side of the main chain. The weather had become cold and rainy 
when we reached the hut above referred to. Here our guides en- 
deavoured to make us understand that it was too dangerous to go © 
further ; and we made no show of resistance, but encouraged them 
to make a fire in the hut while we collected plants round about. 
As soon as they were thus engaged we started up the track, which 
