33S TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



without confuming the body of the tree. After the tropical 

 rains begin, the vegetation immediately returns ; the fprings 

 increafe, the rivers run, and the pools are filled with water^ 

 All forts of verdure being now in the greeted luxuriancy, 

 the Arabs revifit their former ftations. This conflagration 

 is performed at two feafons ; the firft, by the Shangalla and 

 hunters on the fouthern parts of this woody country, begins 

 in the month of OcT:ober, on the return of the fun, the cir- 

 cumftances of which I liave already mentioned ; the latter, 

 which happens in March, and lafts all April, befides provid- 

 ing future fullenance for their flocks, is likewife intended to 

 prevent, at leaft to diminifli, the ravages of the fly ; a plague 

 of the moft extraordinary kind, already defcribed. 



We left Quaicha a little before four in the morning 

 of the 19th of March, and at half an hour paft five we came 

 to Jibbel Achmar, a fmall moimtain, or rather mount ; for 

 it is of a very regular form, and not above 300 feet high, 

 but covered with green grafs to the top. What has given 

 it the name of Jibbel Achmar, or the Red Mountain, I 

 know not. All the country is of red earth about it ; but 

 as it hath much grafs, it fliould be called * the Green 

 Mountain, in the middle of the red coimtry ; though there 

 is nothing more vague or undetermined than the language 

 of the Arabs, when they fpeak of colours. This hill, fur- 

 rounded with impenetrable woods, is in the beginning of 

 autumn the rendezvous of the Arabs Daveina, when there 

 is water ; at which time the rhinoceros and many forts of 

 beafls, crowd hither ; tlio' few elephants, but they are thofe 



of 



* Jibbel Achdat. 



