actual - DSpace@GIPE

88 .AOTU.AL .A..FRIO.A..
from the shores of the Bay of Bougie until at Kharata, near the
southern mouth of the gorge, we had reached 1,300 feet. At this
little village it is 'always cool and comfortable in the hottest day.
of snmmer as the gorge acts as a sort of wind·aail or funnel
through which fresh breezes are always blowing from the Bea.
Kharata contains a comfortable little hotel, which I reached at
five o'clock in the afternoon, much invigorated by the strong air,
and my mind filled with visions and with a rich experience which
will endure as long as life ..
At nine the following morning I left Kharata for Setif. We
followed for many miles a most extraordinarily broken valley in
which ran a small' stream, bordered with oleanders. We loon
crossed tbis on a well·made bridge. The hills continued most
varied in outline and mixed in position. All their lower parts
were carefully cnltivated by the Arabs and it was cnrious to see
on what precipitous slopes the farmers were ploughing, and how
cloBe to the edge of great precipices they would fearlessly go.
The geological formation continued interesting. Strata of vary.
ing thickness, though mostly in thin Iaminre and of varying
colors, were not only lying at varions angles but often vertically
and in Bemi·circles. What mighty forces of nature must have
been brought to bear here! Many mountains were so strongly
marked that yon might easily have fancied the great ftutings to
be waves of the Bea, and the vast heaps looked very like great
sandbanks, with the marks of the billows which had washed them
into position. Much of the rock was a hard sort of slate, some
was gneiss, and more aandstone. There was evidence of great
rain-washing and the dennded psrts of hills showed the preaence
of many minerals. In fact, mines of iron, copper and argentiferous
lead ore have been discovered in this region, but have not
been much developed or worked. We had splendid views behind
us of the range through which the gorge of the Chabet makes
its way and of Mount Babor, which is about 6,500 feet above the
level of the sea. I did not observe any large Arab villages hut
here and there a few scattered hamlets, wretched huts of stone,
• with straw roofs. The fields were mostly devoted to barley. The
hills were treeless and entirely covered with scrub. The road
continued a splendid sample of engineering skill, long detours np
side valleys having frequently to be made in order to get on, aud
much excavation and abutment being necessary. We IItopped for
breakfast at a little village caned Col de Ta Kitonnt. Shortly