310 



A VENERABLE MOOE. 



the cravings of our ever greedy soldiers, aud the greater 

 part of the night was devoted to general feasting through- 

 out our camp. 



On the morning of May 31 our men were in no haste 

 to bestir themselves after the orgy of the preceding night, 

 and we indulged in a longer rest than usual. The weather 

 was fine and clear, but remarkably cool considering the 

 moderate elevation of this district. By our observations 

 our camp stood at 1,562 feet (476-3 m.) above the sea; 

 yet at 8 a.m., when the sun was already high above the 

 horizon, the thermometer marked only 65° F. It was 

 suggested that politeness required a visit to the old 

 Governor, and Hooker, with our interpreter and some of 

 the escort, devoted himself to that duty, while Ball set off 

 alone for a short botanical ramble over the bare, stony 

 hills surrounding our camp. The excursion was not very 

 fruitful, except in the way of illustrating the effects of barren 

 soil and exposure, without the slightest shade or cover, on 

 the growth of many species that here assumed a dwarfed 

 and stunted condition. 



Hooker, who had seen too much of the people of 

 barbarous countries to be open to the illusions that many 

 travellers, new to their manners, readily fall into, was, for 

 once, very favourably impressed by his interview with the 

 Grovernor of Shedma. He had found an old man of ven- 

 erable aspect, with remarkably fine features, whose 

 conversation displayed a happy union of dignity and 

 frankness. He was engaged in superintending the distri- 

 bution of pay to his soldiers, and the subject that naturally 

 arose for discussion was the part which he and his forces 

 were destined to play in the intestine troubles of their 

 neighbours. His instructions from the Sultan were, as it 

 seemed, of an indefinite kind. He had, in the first 

 instance, endeavoured to play the part of mediator and 

 avert the outbreak of hostilities His present duty was to 

 hold himself in readiness to carry out such further orders 

 as he might receive. Considering the jealousies that 



