268 VEGETATION OF THE MOUNTAIN. en, x. 



anthes, hitherto known only in the islands of the Canary 

 and Cape de Verde groups, along with three species of 

 the lily tribe, all of them found in Southern Europe, 

 but not before seen in Maroeco. The tree was found to 

 be the belloot oak {Qurcus Ballota of Desfontaines), 

 a variety of the evergreen oak, which is spread through 

 North Africa and Spain, where the sweet acorns are com- 

 monly roasted and eaten, as chestnuts are elsewhere. 

 Many of the trees are of great age and have thick trunks, 

 and weather-beaten stunted branches, and are apparently 

 the remains of extensive forests that once clothed the 

 flanks of this part of the Atlas up to a height of about 

 8,500 feet above the sea. 



Hooker found the sheik in a state of thorough exas- 

 peration at our success in defeating his orders, probably 

 aggravated by the tedium of waiting for our return. He 

 discharged volleys of fierce abuse at the guide who had 

 failed to keep us within the prescribed limits, but was not 

 openly disrespectful in his manner towards the Christian 

 hakim who had come to his country under the immediate 

 shadow of imperial protection. Foreseeing future trouble 

 in returning through the valley after dark, he was 

 evidently much annoyed at the necessity for awaiting 

 Ball's arrival. To calm his impatience, Hooker lent him 

 a field telescope, and the novel experience so much amused 

 him that his ill-humour appeared to vanish for the time. 

 Uncivilised men are like children, rarely remaining long 

 under the same impression; and even when seemingly quite 

 possessed by some strong feeling, are led away from it by 

 the veriest trifle. 



As required by the inevitable rule of hospitality, a 

 vnona was offered by the people of the adjoining hamlet 

 in the shape of a dish of Jceskossou, barely tasted by us, 

 but speedily despatched by our followers, and at 6.15 p.m. 

 we started on horseback to return to our night-quarters 

 at Iminteli. The sun set before 7, and a brief interval 

 of twilight soon gave place to a dark, though star-lit, 



