VALLEYS AROUXD MATEX. 33 



In this ramble I obtained a few land-shells, the first 

 I had met with. There were not many kinds. Helix 

 Darnaudi, Vitrina RUppelliana, a single specimen of 

 Bulimus Olivieri, and two small Pupae, were aU I could 

 find- They appeared more abimdant on the upper parts 

 of the hiU-side. 



We returned to our camping-ground, and found it was 

 too late to go back to Undul Wells that day, so deferred 

 doing so tin next morning. On reaching it, I foiind one 

 of my horses iU with the disease which had proved so 

 fatal to the cavalry and baggage animals. For two or 

 three days he was most dangerously iU, but at length 

 recovered, and I subsequently used him throughout the 

 campaign. Eum-and-water and quinine were the re- 

 medies used. At first the horse objected to them ; but 

 after a day or two he took a strong liking to grog, and 

 swallowed his dose with the greatest satisfaction. 



I spent three or four days in searching the side valleys 

 around Mayen, and ascertaining the presence or absence 

 of springs. Small quantities of water occur in several 

 instances, usually at a place where a band of very hard 

 compact rock crosses the valley, and causes a very small 

 stream, which elsewhere runs beneath the gravel at the 

 bottom of the ravine, to appear at the surface. There 

 is almost invaiiably a sudden drop in the valley at this 

 spot, so that after rain there must be a waterfall, and 

 in the dry season the water trickles slowly over the 

 rocks. All the springs appear to contain carbonate of 

 lime, which is deposited in immense masses of calcareous 

 tufa. 



D 



