'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎192] (301/496)

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o*um trees are found : tlie mimosa, tamarisk, wild fig, and several species
of the cactus and aloe, are abundant *, and in the deep fissures and rents
made in the plain by the fury of the mountain torrents, a few dome and
date trees are found. Elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas, wolves, and
jackals, are to be seen on the plain, and occasionally a troop of ostriches.
Salt’s white antelope, the “ sagarro” of the Somali, the koodoo, the
kevel or scimitar-horned antelope, and the onyx, were the varieties of
the deer species observed; and the small antelope, or gazelle, was very
common. Jerboas and squirrels were numerous, and a species of toucan.
The white vulture, of enormous size, and the common osprey, were the
principal birds observed. In the hot season much inconvenience is oc
casioned by a species of hornet, the “ dibber ’ of tne Somali, and the
zinib (?) of Bruce, who justly styles them a curse. The same evil ex
tends along the whole coast during the S. W. monsoon, where the
slaughtering a sheep brings the hornets round in myriads, and very
shortly compels the unlucky traveller to shift his position as fast as pos
sible from the neighbourhood of his Somali butcher.
The hill of Deimoli is a lofty conical mountain, in many parts inac
cessible. It is a great resort for beasts of prey, especially for lions, and
is therefore avoided by the shepherds. It is apparently of limestone, and
thickly wooded. At its base stands a smaller hill, bare and barren, and
bearing a most extraordinary appearance, from its being scolloped in re
gular furrows by the action of the rain from top to bottom. On eveiy
side of Deimoli huge masses of rock lie piled on each other, and in many
of these nature appears to have indulged in the wildest vagaries.. Se
veral of these masses formed perfect funnels, and others exhibited
smooth round basin on their upper surface, capable of containing man)
hundred gallons of water.
From the shoulder of Deimoli I was able to sketch the course of the
vallev and water-course abovementioned. Eor some distance on t ie p
1 /qcf*
(two to three hundred yards) it exhibits a running stream, w r hen it i
in the sand for perhaps the same distance, and then re-appears as before.
In almost every part of its bed, water is procurable by digging a foot c eep.
Large bullrushes and tall wiry grass grow in rank luxuriance on ^
banks, affording a good retreat for the wild pig, one long-legged spec
men of which was seen and missed by me on my return,
reported to be numerous, but I saw none.
After a long and fruitless search after the elephants, a held °f