It remained in sight ahead a long time, cheating us
with an appearance of nearness. The inhabitants resemble, in all
respects, their mole-brethren, and occupy themselves chiefly in
cultivating olives and barley. Government exacts from them two
imposts--one special, of a hundred and fifty mahboubs on the
olive-crops; and one general, of five hundred mahboubs. We passed the
village at length, and encamped an hour beyond. Here were the last
olive-groves which were to cheer our eyes for many a long month--many a
long year, maybe. Their dark masses covered the swells right and left,
and near at hand isolated trees formed pleasant patches of shadow.
We left our camping-ground at length next day, having overcome the
obstinate sluggishness of the blacks, and marched nearly nine hours. The
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 containing 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, somewhat resembling our oak in size and
appearance. The Arabs call them "Batoum." They do not seem to have yet
received their proper botanical classification.
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