74 JOURNEY OVER dor, viz., from six to twelve per cent., payable in kind. Those of Santa Cruz remained as before, but so soon as liis imperial majesty reached Marocco, he sent orders for the prince Abd El Melk, who is his nephew and governor of Santa Cruz, with the garrison, together with the merchants, to proceed to Marocco ; accordingly we all departed, the prince having first engaged a revered (fakeer) saint to accompany the ai'my across the Atlas mountains, the fastnesses of which it appeared no army would be permitted to pass, without the protection of this fakeer. We departed about noon, and passed through the plains of the Arab province of Howara *, a very fine country ; we pitched our tents at sunset, near a sanctuary, where we had all kinds of provisions sent to us, in great abundance : we continued our journey the following morning through the plains, and about the middle of the day we reached the foot of Atlas.

This country abounds in extensive plantations of olives, almonds, and gum trees; some plants of the (Jashookgum ammoniac are here discovered.

Vines producing purple grapes of an enormous size and exquisite flavour : (dergmuse) the Euphorbium plant is discovered in rocky parts of the mountains ; and great abundance of worm-seed and stick-liquorice. The indigo plant (Enneel) * A migration from this tribe attacked and took the city of Assouan, in Egypt, some years ago. Vide Burckhardt's Travels in Nubia.

This root abounds all over Sw, and is called by th# natives Ark Sust i- » the rppt of Suse ; the worm-seed is called sheh.