BEAUTIFUL TREES. 
21 
barren forms of the desert begin now to appear, 
the ground being broken up into huge hills that 
run mostly in circles, and groups, and broad stony 
valleys. The formation is limestone, often contain- 
ing flints, with a little sandstone. Patches of barley 
here and there splashed this arid surface with green. 
At a great distance we saw two or three Arab tents, 
and one flock of sheep, Towards evening began to 
appear a number of beautiful bushy trees, some- 
what resembling our oak in size and appearance. 
The Arabs call them " Batoum." They do not seem 
to have yet received their proper botanical classifi- 
cation. Desfontaines describes the tree as the Pis- 
tacia Atlanticis. It greatly resembles the Pistacia 
lentiscus of Linnseus. A few solitary birds, a flight 
of crows, lizards and beetles on the ground ; no 
other signs of life. 
The next day the country became more barren 
still, and the batoum disappeared. The patches 
of barley likewise ceased to cheer the eye ; and 
little pools of water no longer sparkled in the rocky 
bottoms, as near Kaleebah. The geological form- 
ation was nearly the same as yesterday ; but pieces 
of crystalline gypsum covered the ground, and the 
limestone here and there took the form of alabaster. 
Some of the hills that close in the huge basin-like 
valleys are of considerable elevation, and have conic 
volcanic forms. All was dreary, and desolate, and 
sad, except that some ground-larks whirled about ; 
lizards and beetles still kept crossing our path ; 
