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look like Switzerland, but many of them were in a state 
of decay. From the tops of some of these mountains 
we discovered a vast mountainous country, as well to 
the south as to north. At three in the afternoon I per- 
ceived the sea and the coast of Mogadon 
The ground is composed of chalky rocks, covered 
with a slight bed of vegetable earth, a mixture of chalk 
and sand. 
The vegetation was excellent; they were about reap- 
ing barley. Numberless plants in bloom gave a char- 
ming aspect to the country, but above all, the quanti- 
ties of trees which in this country are called Argans. 
This precious tree multiplies by itself, without requi- 
ring any assistance; all the trouble it gives to man con- 
sists in gathering its fruit, which forms a kind of very 
thick olive, yielding a great quantity of oil proper for 
all uses. 
Though in general I must refer to the scientific part 
of my travels for the description of the plants, yet the 
great utility of the above tree induces me to say a few 
words on it here. 
It seems that Linneus has put this plant in the genus 
of the Rhamnus or Sideroxilus kind; he calls it llham- 
nus siculus in his system, and in his herbary Sideroxilus 
spinosus. The learned botanist Dryander calls it Rham- 
nus penta phyllus\ but the learned Mr. Schusboe, Dan- 
ish consul at Morocco, who has examined the plants of 
this country more closely than any other person, has 
followed the worthy botanists Retz and Wildenow, who 
have called it Elaeodendron Argan. 
Mr. Schusboe's description is undoubtedly the most 
complete; some little differences from it will be seen in 
the scientific part of my journey, 
