CHAPTER XVII. 
CoNTiNUE^D Word Pictures by Famous Explorers—BrambeES 
AND Donkeys—Eeegant Animaes^—^Swiet Punishment— 
Five Men Wounded by a Lioness—The Famous Gorieea— 
A Very Human Animae—Inveterate Thieves—Quick 
Retreat—Arms Longer than Legs—FormidabeE Foe— 
Must Kiee or be Kieeed—Cutting Down the Tree —A 
Young Orang. 
\A 7 E now turn our attention to the country lying eastward toward 
^ ^ the Red Sea. The path lies through a desert, which is not, 
however, wholly destitute of vegetation; where, after abundant 
rain, the valleys are transformed into verdant pasture lands. The 
vegetation is most abundant from February to April, but the almost 
tropical heat destroys one plant after another, leaving only the more 
deeply rooted growths for the summer months. The plateau-like 
western portion of the desert resembles, both in its appearance and 
vegetation, the Libyan desert, and is very poor in vegetable life. 
By far the most common plant of these regions is the desert bramble, 
a half-shrub, with flowers like its kindred plant, the radish; it is 
this plant especially which, when seen from afar, gives to the valley 
the appearance of green meadow-land. 
The wise Egyptian donkey, notwithstanding the preference 
shown by his European kindred for thistles, is prudent enough to 
keep at a respectful distance from this plant, which the hard- 
mouthed dromedary can eat with great relish; chewing the prickly 
masses without losing one drop of blood; he even swallows with 
delight the thorns of the acacia. In many places a plant resembling 
broom grows freely; it is a long-branched, almost leafless bush, 
much liked by camels. 
Shadowy groves of tamarisk, frequented by many birds and 
insects, often surprise us in the midst of the most barren solitudes; 
and wherever the soil has received any moisture, willows and rushes 
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