'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎194] (303/496)

what was most singular, though the rock throughout was the same, a hot
spring of water would be found within a yard or two of another of cold
water, and though the hot springs were disagreeable to the taste, the
water obtained from those that were cold was sweet and good.
Fully a hundred of these springs exist in this valley, and the tempe
rature of the main stream varied from 91° to 105°, the highest tempe
rature found in any of the hot springs being 125°, and the water appear
ing to be strongly impregnated with iron.
A peculiar kind of creeper grows in great luxuriance in the neigh
bourhood of the springs, which in every case ooze through the rocks.
The dragon’s-blood tree was observed on the hills above, and an ibis
and a coney were seen, whilst a flock of large apes noisily resented our
intrusion upon their retirement. The head of the stream, I was assured,
was to be found in the mountain range of Woghur, which I have since
personally ascertained to be the fact. Near where the stream is lost in the
sand we found an extensive burial-ground ; and the remains of several
old buildings of small dimensions, of no great antiquity. The dis
tance of Bheeyeh Grhora from the sea is not great,—perhaps six miles;
and I have been assured by several respectable natives, that on the sea
shore north of Bheeyeh G-hora, and at the spot where its waters are dis
charged into the ocean after heavy rains, the remains of an ancient re
servoir and aqueduct are to be found, similar to that previously describ
ed as extending from Dthubar to Berbera.
It is worthy of remark that the majority of the streams running from
the mountain ranges of Woghur and Koobis are bitter, and in quality
highly astringent. There are, however, others that afford most delicious
and pure water, to be properly appreciated only after a seven years resi
dence at Aden. The country to the south is described as an inclined
plain, without hill or rock, for seven days’ journey, and, on arrival at the
province of Agahdur, we were told that stones sufficient to make a fire
place were not to be found, whilst the country was one immense prairie
of some twenty days’ extent.
The Haber Gerhajis, the eldest branch of the three tribes of Edoor,
reside chiefly in the mountains to the south of Berbera, whence they ex
tend to the country of Agahdur. They are a powerful and warlike
tribe, numbering many horses, in addition to their flocks and herds, and
have a nominal Sultan, who possesses, however, but little influence oi
power over his savage subjects. From this branch of the family of Isaakh