When it was clear that nothing was here to be effected in the way of mountain exploration, and it was seen that the day was too far gone to reach Mtouga, we decided on proceeding to Milhaïn, a place, as we were told, standing close to the foot of the mountains. Only a slender stream which we crossed, issues from the valley above Imintanout, and conflicting statements were made as to the course of this, as well as of the other stream which we saw somewhat later at Milhaïn. In ordinary weather both are probably absorbed into irrigation channels before they traverse the plain; but it is most likely that their natural course, which they must follow in rainy weather, joins that of the Oued Usbi flowing from Seksaoua, and reaches the Oued Tensift by the way of Sheshaoua. An easy ride of two hours took us to Milhaïn. The outer skirts of the Atlas here had an unexpectedly bare and sterile aspect. We had supposed that in the portion of the range approaching the Atlantic coast a more copious rainfall would produce more luxuriant vegetation. We were now within about 70 miles of the ocean, but, as compared with the valleys south of Marocco, the change had been in the opposite sense. It may well be that owing to the diminished height of the mountains the cooling of the aërial currents from the W. and SW. is here insufficient to cause much rain, except in winter, or possibly this part of the range is more exposed to hot and dry winds from the desert. It may also be true that the difference in the vegetation is largely due to the mineral structure of the rocks in this district. They chiefly consist of hard brittle semi-crystalline limestone, with softer beds intercalated, and the rainfall must be very rapidly absorbed in crevices and fissures. No trees were to be seen, except olives planted near the villages, and a few white poplars near the banks of the stream beside which we pitched our camp. We were fully prepared for the assurance of the village sheik that the condition of the country made it impossible for him to conduct us into the valley which here issues from the Great Atlas, and sends down a stream rather more considerable than that of Imintanout; and, as it was clearly useless to press the point, we contented ourselves by expressing a wish to take a short walk into a recess of the mountain enclosed between steep rocky declivities that opened within sight of our camp. A jocund young Shelluh was appointed as a guide, though none in reality was required; and he somewhat interested us by singing lustily at the top of his voice songs of a lively character. Hitherto all the mountaineers we had met were marked by a serious and somewhat saddened demeanour, as of people on whom the burden of life pressed heavily, the only exceptions being among the men we had brought from Mogador, of whom Ambak was especially noticeable for his cheerful and lively humour.