The destructive practice of setting fire to the brushwood is the sole cause that prevents the northern slopes of the Great Atlas from being clothed with valuable timber. The motive is not only the desire to obtain pasture for sheep and goats, but also to deprive an enemy of cover for ambush during the frequent skirmishes that occur between neighbouring tribes. The olive, carob, and walnut, which are planted in the main valleys, and produce annual crops, are carefully protected; but the notion of looking forward to future profit after an interval of thirty or forty years would be absolutely unintelligible to a native of this country. By a very rude process, the natives extract from the trunks and branches of _Juniperus phœnicea_ a sort of tar which is said to be a useful application in wounds and sores of men and animals. As we continued to advance, the valley narrowed almost to a defile, and the track, carried along rather steep slopes, became difficult for laden animals, though not worse than one commonly meets in high mountain countries, nor nearly so bad as some that we afterwards traversed in the Atlas. Presently, Abraham announced that Kaïd el Hasbi declared the track too bad for farther progress of the baggage mules. As it was apparent that the valley widened out a short way ahead, and that the _mauvais pas_ would soon come to an end, we turned deaf ears to the remark, and rode doggedly on for a short distance farther, encouraged by the view in front, which disclosed a long reach of valley, running deep into the heart of the great chain. Shortly after, those who were in front became aware that a vehement discussion was going on at the centre of our scattered line. The energy of our interpreter was taxed to the utmost in striving to render the emphatic sentences that were exchanged between Hooker and Kaïd el Hasbi, supplemented by the pantomimic gestures of the latter.