160 OUTEE RAMPART OF THE ATLAS. ch. tii. 



open rivulets showed that the slope of the ground from 

 south to north is very decided. Along the smaller water- 

 courses we noticed in abundance what appeared to be a 

 new Pulicaria, but was afterwards found to be the same 

 as an eastern species (P. longifolia) described by Boissier. 



We rode along in high spirits, delighted to leave the 

 city, and still more with the near prospect of setting foot 

 on the mountain chain whose unknown recesses had so long 

 been a fascination for us ; and the only drawback on our 

 enjoyment was the shifting veil of clouds that hung about 

 the higher summits, only now and then allowing some rug- 

 ged peak to stand out for a few moments. As we gradually 

 drew nearer, our attention was more and more fixed on 

 the remarkable line of flat-topped bluffs, conspicuous in 

 the view from the city, that extends for a distance of fully 

 twenty miles along the base of the Atlas chain, and on the 

 east side seems to jut out in a northern direction. From 

 a distance the face appears quite precipitous and almost 

 vertical, and there is but one conspicuous break in its 

 continuity. This, as we afterwards found, is caused by the 

 stream running under Tasseremout, which has cut a deep 

 channel through the barrier. 



After riding about three hours we approached an in- 

 habited place, which we were told was the residence of 

 the Kaid. We had left behind us the tract of country 

 ravaged by locusts, and the general aspect of things was 

 here much brighter than we had beheld since leaving the 

 coast region. The more brilliant green and more vigorous 

 growth of herbaceous plants led us to infer that, irrespec- 

 tive of the influence of irrigation, the zone extending 

 round the base of the mountain region must receive at 

 least some share of the more frequent rains that occur 

 there at seasons when the low country in general is con- 

 demned to utter drought. On reaching the kasbah of the 

 Kaid, which showed as a low but substantial building, with 

 walls sloping outward, we were accosted by an official 

 deputed to apologise for the absence of his chief, who 



