256 APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 



blue Surat cloth for the head, and another for their 

 principal male friend, is all and more than they 

 expect; whilst the freedom from annoyance and 

 constant watching, which is secured by this pro- 

 ceeding, is of great service to the traveller after 

 the fatigue of a long day's journey. 



The plain of Lukhee, at that part of it where we 

 were, appears to have been once a similar valley to 

 that we had travelled along during the three last 

 days, but it has been completely filled up, with the 

 deposited sediment of the numerous small streams 

 in this neighbourhood, to the height of the lava 

 plateau through which these wide and deep fissures, 

 have originally radiated. 



The country around extending in one wide plain, 

 advantage had been taken of the little eminence, 

 near which the huts were erected, to form a kind 

 of small solid look-out, about fifteen feet high, 

 built of loose stones, and used on occasions of 

 anticipated invasion, by the inhabitants of Her- 

 howlee, who could here keep watch and announce 

 the approach of danger. Ohmed Mahomed and 

 two of my Hy Soumaulee escort took me to its 

 summit, to point out the different distant eminences 

 visible from it. Before us, to the south, lay the 

 extensive plain of Lukhee, over which was just 

 discernible, at the distance of at least fifty miles, 

 the high hills of Goror, near the town of Hurrah, 

 where the coffee brought to Berberah is largely 

 cultivated. Turning towards the north we could 



