CHAPTER XVII. 

 Continued Word Pictures by Famous Explorf.rs — Brambles 



AND DONKIDYS — Elyl^GANT AnIMAI^S — SwiFT PuNISHMijNT — 



Five Mkn Wounded by a Lioness — Thk Famous Gorieea — 

 A Very Human Animae — Inveterate Thieves — Quick 

 Retreat — Arms Longer than Legs — Formidable Foe — 

 Must Kiee or be Kieeed — Cutting Down the Tree — A 

 Young Orang. 



Wl E now turn our attention to the country lying eastward toward 

 ^ ^ tlie Red Sea. The path Hes through a desert, which is not, 

 however, wholly destitute of vegetation; where, after abundant 

 rain, the valleys are transformed into verdant pasture lands. The 

 vegetation is most abundant from February to April, but the almost 

 tropical heat destroys one plant after another, leaving only the more 

 deeply rooted growths for the summer months. The plateau-like 

 western portion of the desert resembles, both in its appearance and 

 vegetation, the Libyan desert, and is very poor in vegetable life. 

 By far the most common plant of these regions is the desert bramble, 

 a half-shrub, with flov/ers like its kindred plant, the radish; it is 

 this plant especially which, when seen from afar, gives to the valley 

 the appearance of green meadow-land. 



The wise Egyptian donkey, notwithstanding the preference 

 shown by his European kindred for thistles, is prudent enough to 

 keep at a respectful distance from this plant, which the hard- 

 mouthed dromedary can eat with great relish; chewing the prickly 

 masses without losing one drop of blood; he even swallows with 

 delight the thorns of the acacia. In many places a plant resembling 

 broom grows freely; it is a long-branched, almost leafless bush, 

 much liked by camels. 



Shadowy groves of tamarisk, frequented by many birds and 

 insects, often surprise us in the midst of the most barren solitudes ; 

 and wherever the soil has received any moisture, willow^ and rushes 



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