4.62 REPORT—1899. 
received by the Sultan, to whom he presented letters of introduction from 
the Government. Permission was readily granted by the Sultan to visit 
all parts of the island. The next day the expedition went ashore and 
camped in the mountain-girt plain in which Hadibu stands. A week 
was spent there investigating the northern slopes of the Haghier 
Mountains. On the 18th of the month the camp was moved to Dahamis, 
at an elevation of 1,500 feet, where the Europeans of the party were all 
unfortunately very soon laid down by a most pernicious form of malaria. 
Excellent collections were, nevertheless, obtained in their convalescent 
intervals. On the 26th, however, it was decided to move to Kamahanu, 
a hill in the Garieh Plains, where it was hoped a more salubrious camping- 
ground would be found. But the continued sickness of the party— 
among whom for several days there was not a single undisabled member 
—made it necessary, after a few days’ trial of this camp, to seek a still 
higher altitude on the Haghier range. The tents were consequently struck 
on December 30 and transported to Jena-agahan, where, notwithstanding 
that fever was still very prevalent and the expedition was practically 
deprived, during the greater part of the time of its stay there (owing to 
his serious illness), of the services of the taxidermist, many of the most 
interesting specimens in the collection were secured, the most notable 
perhaps being the beautiful wild ass, of which large herds roamed’ the 
plains below the camp. On January 15 the camp was moved a two days’ 
journey to the high plateau of Homhil, which proved to be a most success- 
ful collecting station. The health of the expedition rapidly improved, the 
climate and scenery were invigorating, with an abundant flora and 
fauna. There were here obtained roots and seeds of the shrubby gentian 
(Exacum ceruleum), one of the most lovely species both in flower and 
foliage of a beautiful family, and of a fine broad-leaved amaryllid (Heman- 
thus grandifolius), whose flowering is awaited with much expectation. 
On January 27 a move was made from Homhil to Adho Dimellus, in 
the heart of the Haghier Mountains, at about 4,000 feet above sea-level— 
one of the most salubrious and beautiful spots imaginable. There over a 
fortnight was spent with great profit to all departments of the collection. 
Numerous butterflies were captured, some of great rarity, such as Papilio 
benetti, of which only one broken specimen was previously known, 
as well as roots and seeds of some of the most remarkable of the plants 
of the island, whose alpine flora has all the marks of great antiquity. 
On February 18 the expedition had to make its way back to the plain of 
Hadibu to await the return of the Zlphinstone, which on the 21st of the 
same month anchored off the town, and took on board the members of 
the expedition and the collections. The same evening the despatch-boat 
sailed for Abd-el-Kuri, where it was decided to supplement the collections 
already obtained there by a few days’ further exploration. From Abd-el- 
Kuri the Elphinstone brought the expedition direct to Aden, arriving 
there on the night of February 26, 1899. The party left Aden on 
March 2, and sixteen days later arrived in London. 
The results of the expedition may be summarised as follows :' Of 
mammals there are examples of one or two species of rat, of one species 
of civet cat, of one species of bat, and of a beautiful wild ass, which may 
perhaps prove to be a new species. Of birds there are some 300 speci- 
mens, 250 in skin and fifty in spirit, out of which seven species have 
been described by Mr. Grant and Dr. Forbes as new to science. A large 
series of reptiles, described by Mr. Boulenger, was acquired, which con- 
