V 



TRAVELS m EASTERN AFRICA 



from them is not pleasing. Bearing this in mind, it 

 can easily be imagined that both Lieutenant von 

 Hohnel and I hastened through the process of blood- 

 brotherhood with all despatch, and it was with a feel- 

 ing of absolute relief that we returned toward camp. 

 Even there we were not destined to breathe the pure 

 air a long time, for the hedge was soon surrounded by 

 hundreds of peering natives, who successfully warded 

 off the evening breeze. To add to this, our new- 

 found brothers insisted upon entering our compound, 

 and even endeavoured to seat themselves upon our 

 beds. Needless to say, from this they were gently 

 but firmly dissuaded. Their talk was now of trade, 

 and they were full of promises to supply the wants 

 of the entire caravan in order to prove their friend- 

 ship for us. We showed them our trading-goods, 

 and willingly entered into the spirit of the game ; 

 knowing that, as soon as we had established trade 

 relations with these people, there would be no dan- 

 ger of hostility from them. It was sunset ere the 

 camp was at length free from these disagreeable 

 visitors. 



The natives of these mountains are very fond of 

 chewing the leaves and tender shoots of a tree here 

 called "Miraa." This tree is similar to one found in 

 Arabia and Abyssinia, which has already been de- 

 scribed by botanists, and is called in Arabic, " Kaht." 

 The Arabs, Abyssinians, and Somali resident at Aden 

 chew only the green leaves of this tree ; but the natives 

 of the Jombeni range carefully strip the leaves from 

 the twig, and then chew only the green bark. The 

 juice of this plant is highly stimulating to the nervous 



