142 Report on the Island of Socotra. [March, 



in short ranges towards the southern shore : their outline is mostly smooth 

 and rounded, excepting on the side nearest to the sea, where it in general 

 presents a steep wall. The whole of the western and the greater part of 

 the eastern portion of the island is composed of hills similar in their ap- 

 pearance, elevation, and structure to this range. 



As the whole Island of Socotra may be considered as one mass of pri- 

 mitive rock, we cannot expect to find it distinguished by any remarkable fer- 

 tility of soil. I yet find it so varied, that it is difficult to speak of it in any 

 general terms. The summit and sides of the greater part of the mountains, 

 composing the eastern portion of the island, present in some places the 

 smooth surface of the rock entirely denuded of soil ; in others the rain has 

 worn the sui'face into hollows, and other irregularities, in which there is 

 lodged a shallow deposit of light earth, from whence a few shrubs spring 

 forth. On the sea face of the hills, on the northern side of the island, and 

 amidst the sides and elevated regions in the vicinity of the granite peaks, 

 we find a dark rich vegetable mould, which teems with the most luxu- 

 riant vegetation. In the plain about Tamarida, some portions near 

 Cadhaop, and several beautiful valleys and plains which I crossed on my 

 i*eturn from Ras Mamse, the soil consists of a reddish colored earth, which 

 nourishes at certain seasons an abundant supply of grass, and appears well 

 adapted for the cultivation of grain, fruits, or vegetables. In those valleys 

 through which the streams flow, there are now only extensive groves of 

 date trees ; but the existence of a broad border of beautiful turf, occasional 

 enclosures of Dekhan, and (though but rarely) a plantation of indigo or 

 cotton, indicate no want of richness or fertility of the soil. 



Climate. 



Though this island is situated but a short distance from the con- 

 tinents of Arabia and Africa, and is in fact on the same parallel with 

 their most parched and burning plains, yet from both monsoons blowing 

 over a vast expanse of water, it enjoys a climate remarkably temperate and 

 cool : a register of the thermometer which I kept during our stay, from the 

 12th of January to the 14th March, exhibits the mean daily temperature 

 at 70|°, while several springs at but a slight elevation from the sea, into 

 which the thermometer was immersed, indicated the mean annual tem- 

 perature at 73°. On the hills it is of course found to be much cooler. Until 

 within a few days previous to our quitting the island, the monsoon blew 

 very fresh, and even at times swept through the valleys with a violence I 

 have rarely seen equalled. The sky was usually overcast with clouds, and 

 while other parts of Asia and Africa, under the same parallel, had yet some 

 months to elapse before their tei'mination of the dry seasons, Socotra en- 

 joyed frequent and copious rains ; for these she is principally indebted at 

 this season to her granite mountains : their lofty peaks obstruct the clouds 

 which strike against their sides : either depositing their aqueous particles 

 near their summit, or precipitating them in plentiful showers on the sur- 

 rounding country. It is these also which contribute to nourish the nume- 

 rous mountain streams which intersect several parts of the island. Several 



