HUNTING GROUND. 179 



changed in its character, since crossing the bed of 

 the stream we travelled down yesterday, and which 

 was a natural division, very well marked, between 

 the wild volcanic desert to the east and south, and 

 the extensive undulating plain of gravelly soil to 

 the west, which was thickly covered with high 

 tufts of a strong, coarse grass, and afforded 

 plenty of food for the camels. It was, in fact, 

 the great inducement for our halt at this place, 

 although attributed by the politic Ohmed Mahomed, 

 to a desire on his part not to offend Lohitu, by 

 passing any further through his dominions without 

 a conference. 



Mimosa-trees also abounded here, and their 

 bright green delicate foliage, when growing closely 

 together, made some better watered parts of the 

 country look as if covered with extensive meadows. 

 Herds of some hundreds of a species of antelope, 

 called " wydiddoo ' could be observed in one 

 direction, feeding on the edges of these woods, 

 whilst on the other side, the less but more elegant 

 " symbilla " was raising itself almost into the trees, to 

 reach the tufts of curled seed-pocls, that form its 

 favourite food. These pods were also being 

 gathered in considerable quantities by the camel- 

 men, who placed them carefully in their body- 

 cloths, or tobes, and intended them as a bonne 

 bouche, for any camel deemed not altogether 

 in such condition, as its owner could wish. 

 They were always a dose at bed-time, being 



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