INTERESTING SPECIES OF PALM. 441 
and so remarkable that it looked as if a waving wall 
had been built there as a boundary between two pro- 
perties, standing up in the sky-line like chevaux-de- 
frise. The colours of the accumulated debris and 
sand in the gorges of the hill-sides were striking. At 
the top of the incline the sand was flesh-coloured and 
fiery ; lower down the debris was grey and purple, 
consisting of slate in various shades, and blue rocks 
like masses of cobalt ; bits of spar were also collected. 
Between each of these are tempting valleys for a 
ride, the ground being of firm hard sand. 
The connection between each valley is formed by 
a steep rugged path, sometimes, as on entering the 
valley of Dullah, with high cliffs on either side ; and 
looking through this vista upon the scene below, the 
effect is picturesque. There is a line of palm-trees 
which adds a charm to the spot. At a distance they 
might be mistaken for the doom-palm ; but their fruit, 
unbranched stems, and leaves are different. We had 
not seen them before, but Manua had found them 
growing eight degrees south of the equator, in a 
country where there are numerous rivulets. Some 
seeds, brought home by the expedition, were propa- 
gated in Kew, but they ultimately died. Having 
passed the valleys of Dullah, Wadi Soofoor, and 
Thillatha Jindeh, with its acacias, we rested between 
six and eight o'clock on the sands of Wadi Mereesha, 
and were on the move again till three of the morning. 
While riding along upon the march, conversation is 
continued in order to keep each other awake. The 
topics are generally upon the natural objects around 
us, whether it be the hills, stream-beds, trees, or rocks. 
The Seedees laughed, mimicked, and ridiculed each 
