306 THE KASBAH OF MTOUGA. ch. xii. 



It is strange, although similar anomalies are found in 

 all ages and countries, to learn that, along with an utter 

 absence of rudimentary feelings of humanity, these people 

 show indications of the sentiment of chivalry. However 

 strangely understood, the point of honour has a recognised 

 place in their ethical system. The feud between Haha 

 and Mtouga had been smouldering for many weeks, and 

 hostilities were to have commenced soon after our arrival 

 in the country. But the brother of the Kaid of Haha 

 was about that time seized with small-pox, and it was 

 thought proper to await his recovery before commencing 

 the war. 



The night was overclouded, dark, and almost cold, and 

 we were on foot at an early hour on the morning of May 

 30. The kasbah, standing on an elevated plateau, 3,085 

 feet (940-3 metres) above the sea-level, does not, owing to 

 the undulating character of the surface, command any ex- 

 tensive view. Close beside it, a stream from the Atlas has 

 excavated a broad trench, similar in structure to Ain 

 Tarsil, but very different in aspect. A streamlet here 

 meanders along the flat bottom between walls of rock 

 some 40 feet in height, and the more constant supply of 

 moisture suffices to cover the floor of the miniature valley 

 with a carpet of vegetation, and to support a fringe of 

 tall water plants along the banks. "We might probably 

 have added several species to our lists if we could have 

 devoted a day to botanising along the course of the stream ; 

 but in the existing state of the country that could not be 

 thought of, and we contented ourselves with a morning 

 stroll over the ground surrounding the kasbah, and along 

 the neighbouring banks of the stream. As we wandered 

 separately, Hooker was assailed with extraordinary vehe- 

 mence by a negro woman. Not a word could, of course, 

 be understood ; but the objurgations of a virago are to 

 some extent intelligible in every language. It was not 

 possible to guess what induced this outpouring of threats 

 and abuse, but it seemed probable that a botanist might 



