so SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



the scene changes as if by magic. As it moistens the plain, an extensive 

 growth of bushy, low-sized trees almost covers the district. 



In the upper Gh6r these are densely tangled and matted, almost to the 

 exclusion of other growth, and afford shelter for multitudes of birds. In 

 the lower Gh6r the trees are more scattered, often, no doubt, in the more 

 peopled district, from being consumed for firing, and thinned to admit of 

 pasturage and cultivation. These trees are chiefly Acacias (three sorts), 

 Salvadora, Zizyphus, and Balanites. There is also a Rhamnus not un- 

 frequent, and Mr. Lowne mentions Moringa aptera. This latter writer 

 misquotes the authors (Irby and Mangles), whom he criticizes, when he 

 ascribes to them the remark that the oasis contained ' an almost infinite 

 variety of shrubs and bushes.' Their words are : ' The variety of bushes 

 and wild plants became very great,' a phrase which is well within the 

 bounds of the reality.* 



Of those trees the Salvadora is the most abundant, and usually occupies 

 a slightly lower region than the Acacias, It grows in clumps, several 

 stems arising together, branching at once, and all combining to form a 

 single tree. It is very leafy above, with small entire leathery leaves ; 

 below it displays a labyrinth of grayish branches. The flowers and fruit 

 are small and numerous. It attains a height of about 20 feet, a stray 

 branch reaching to 25 or 30 feet. The Balanites (Zukkum) is usually a 

 smaller tree, and was in full fruit. This is green and wrinkled, somewhat 

 like that of a walnut. The leaves are few and small. The Zizyphus 

 is the well-known sidr or thorn of the Arabs, the ' doni ' when reaching 

 a large size. Its branches, strewed in lines along the ground, form the 

 fences to protect the grain from cattle. 



As the plain slowly lowers to the Dead Sea, becoming at the same 

 time gradually moister, the vegetation changes. The above species 

 decrease in the number of individuals. Tamarisks, Osher, Salsolas, 

 Prosopis, and Atriplices take their place in abundance. Of these, the 

 Osher {Calotropis procerd) is the most remarkable. It is somewhat 

 like a gigantic small-leaved cabbage bush, cactus-like, and with the 

 bark of a cork-tree — utterly strange -looking to European eyes. Its 

 fruit, the size of a large apple, is full of silk and air, and is probably 



* I quote from Murray's edition in the Colonial and Home Library, vol. iv., p. 108 

 ed. 1884. 



