178 FEESH DIFFICULTIES. ch. vm. 



The destructive practice of setting fire to the brush- 

 wood is the sole cause that prevents the northern slopes of 

 the Great Atlas from being clothed with valuable timber. 

 The motive is not only the desire to obtain pasture for 

 sheep and goats, but also to deprive an enemy of cover for 

 ambush during the frequent skirmishes that occur between 

 neighbouring tribes. The olive, carob, and walnut, which 

 are planted in the main valleys, and produce annual crops, 

 are carefully protected ; but the notion of looking forward 

 to future profit after an interval of thirty or forty years 

 would be absolutely unintelligible to a native of this 

 country. By a very rude process, the natives extract from 

 the trunks and branches of Juniperus phoenicea a sort of 

 tar which is said to be a useful application in wounds and 

 sores of men and animals. 



As we continued to advance, the valley narrowed 

 almost to a defile, and the track, carried along rather 

 steep slopes, became difficult for laden animals, though not 

 worse than one commonly meets in high mountain coun- 

 tries, nor nearly so bad as some that we afterwards tra- 

 versed in the Atlas. Presently, Abraham announced that 

 Kaid el Hasbi declared the track too bad for farther pro- 

 gress of the baggage mules. As it was apparent that the 

 valley widened out a short way ahead, and that the 

 TTMUvais pas would soon come to an end, we turned deaf 

 ears to the remark, and rode doggedly on for a short dis- 

 tance farther, encouraged by the view in front, which 

 disclosed a long reach of valley, running deep into the 

 heart of the great chain. Shortly after, those who were 

 in front became aware that a vehement discussion was 

 going on at the centre of our scattered line. The energy 

 of our interpreter was taxed to the utmost in striving to 

 render the emphatic sentences that were exchanged between 

 Hooker and Kaid el Hasbi, supplemented by the panto- 

 mimic gestures of the latter. 



The gist of the a.rgument was to the effect that even 

 if we did go some way farther, at the risk of our baggage 



