'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎204] (313/496)

wandering over the level plateau forming the summit of the range. The
wild fig, twenty-five to thirty feet in height, was thinly scattered along
the ridge.
The dragon’s-blood tree was observed twenty-six inches in diameter,
and eighteen feet in height. The ebony was plentiful, but of small size.
A tree similar to, and possibly the lignum vitm, attracted our notice;
and cedar trees, some of them twenty-four inches in diameter and
twenty-five feet high, were common. In cutting the cedar we observed
that the wood which appeared to be growing had no scent, and was nearly
white, whilst the more aged branches, that apparently bore no leaf, were
of a very deep colour, and had a very strong perfume. The wood is
neither prized or used by the Somalis.
Yarious and very beautiful wild flowers were scattered over the plain.
The aloe of Socotra was abundant, and of good quality, but not used or
known by the people. Many species of euphorbium and milk-bushes
were seen, but no frankincense or gum arabic.
The summit of the range is composed of tabular masses of limestone,
covered with small nodules, and very cellular, thereby rendering walking
most uncomfortable, from the sharpness of the rock. At one point that
we visited, a most magnificent natural wonder presented itself to us. A
column of rock, of perhaps fifty feet square, had, by some convulsion of
nature, been separated from the mountain side, and stood alone, a migh
ty pillar of 1500 feet in height, without hardly a break or irregularity
in its sides, so straight had been the fracture. Trees, and the grass of
years, remained on its summit untouched, the intervening fifty feet form
ing an impassable gulf; and at its foot, deep caverns went in far beneath
the parent mountain, through whose windings a stone thrown down from
above could be heard to reverberate long after it had passed from sight.
A second night of cloud and fog prevented again our communication
with the brig by rocket or blue-light, but the “ siraj,” or light of the
English, will long be held in remembrance by the Ahl Oor Sungeli, who
could not sufficiently admire the one or the other. “ You are the kings
of this world in wisdom/’ said the solemn Mahammood Abdi, “ and what
are we in comparison ? Thank heaven our world is to come l”
After a two days’ stay in this delightful climate, we commenced the
descent by the former route, intending to spend a day at the water 1000
feet below, and examine the frankincense trees in the neigbourhoocl.