OUEIKA VALLEY. 175 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Vegetation of Ourika valley — Destruction of the native trees — Our 

 progress checked — Enforced return — Shelluh village — Ride from 

 Ourika to Reraya — Trouble with our escort — A friendly Shelluh 

 sheik — Native desire for medical advice — Characteristics of the 

 Shelluhs — Zaouia of Moulai' Ibrahim — Camp in A'it Mesau valley — 

 Excursion to the head of the valley — Reach the rmow — Night 

 travelling in the Atlas. 



At sunrise, on April 10, the thermometer stood at 60°, 

 and in this delightful climate we were in the best spirits 

 for undertaking the work that seemed to be ready cut out 

 for us, by exploring the fine valley that led directly from 

 our station to the heart of the great mountain chain. 

 Otir expectations were, indeed, somewhat damped by the 

 discussions that had already taken place with the Vice- 

 Governor and with Kaid el Hasbi. They did not deny 

 that we might travel some way up the valley, but asserted 

 that it would not be practicable for us to ' reach the snow.' 

 It was impossible to leave the spot where we encamped 

 without giving a little time for collecting some of the 

 very interesting plants that grew close at hand. Fore- 

 most amongst these was a leguminous shrub that seems 

 destined to become an ornament to the gardens of Eu- 

 rope. This — Adenocarpus anagynfolius, of Cosson — was 

 first found in 1867, by M. Balansa, and seems to be com- 

 mon, especially near the banks of streams, between 3,000 

 and 5,000 feet above the sea level throughout this part of 

 the Great Atlas. The long racemes of bright yellow flowers 

 were conspicuous from a distance, and we afterwards found 

 the pods, densely covered with black glands, but nowhere 

 containing ripe seed. Another new bush belonging to the 



