NOVEL KIND OF FRUIT. 479 



finest young grass. The meandering thread of the 

 gently rippling brook that passed along, now 

 crossing our path, and now expanding into little 

 pools of the clearest water, was all that represented 

 the powerful agent that had effected the denuda- 

 tion of this deep and extensive, though narrow 

 defile ; and the triumph of easy, gentle per- 

 suasion, found no bad type in the effects of this 

 little stream upon the rocky walls that bounded its 

 deeply cut channel. 



We opened, at length, upon some narrow 

 valleys, that seemed each to contribute in the 

 rainy season its quota, to the swollen river that 

 then joins the Kokki. Across these we passed, 

 plucking, as we went, an unctuous, gelatinous, berry; 

 not unlike in taste and character to our yew berry ; 

 and which grew upon a shrub that appeared to be- 

 long to the honey-suckle tribe, without depending, 

 however, upon any other but its own short strong 

 stem for support. Its fruit appears to be a great 

 favourite with the Dankalli, who dry the berries 

 in the sun, and carry down considerable quan- 

 tities with them on their return to Tajourah, for 

 their friends at home. 



We now entered a jungly district, the height 

 of the shrubs and bushes preventing any extensive 

 view ; besides, I was too much occupied in taking 

 care of my eyes and face, from the lashing recoil 

 of the impatient branches, at being disturbed by 

 the spears of the wild Bedouins dashing by. 



