‘A JOURNEY IN THE EAST.’ 3653 
nature that a fall into the depths below might easily have 
occurred. We passed countless peaks and summits, and were 
perpetually riding up and down over mountain-ridges and 
through valleys and ravines. Ground more broken up it is 
impossible to imagine, nor was there a single tree or the 
slightest trace of the presence of man. 
After a long ride the formation of the country changed, 
the slopes grew more gentle, the stones entirely vanished, 
and the steppe appeared, decked in its spring array of high 
green grass and flowers. The greyish-yellow mountains 
which we had just passed through ran due north and south, 
shutting out all the outlook towards the west; and we came 
to a fragrant flowery plateau over which we galloped, for the 
ground was good, and the horses, glad to have got rid of the 
smooth rocks and steep paths, sprang about in a lively 
fashion. 
The steppes are grand, but undeniably monotonous, though 
not so lonesome as the far more impressive desert, for in 
spring the former has the advantage of being beautified with 
flowers, while the latter is utterly devoid of vegetation and 
has nothing to show but bright coloured stones. 
Another steep hill of most peculiar form and colour now 
rose in front of us. It belongs to the so-called mountains of 
“ Juda,” but has left their line, and advanced further into the 
plateau. This sharp, perfectly barren cone is entirely formed 
of a conglomerate of yellow clay, red rock, and brown and 
grey stones. We had to pass along a deep gorge between 
it and the other mountains by a dangerous path over 
smooth rocks and close to precipices. Even our Bedouins 
dismounted, and at one part of the way the clever horses 
simply followed their masters, for they could not be led. It 
is on occasions like this that one learns to appreciate the high 
intelligence of the Arab horse. At this bad place one of our 
pack-animals slipped down an incredible distance, but luckily 
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