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BATUM TO TIFLIS 59
desert, no doubt, but also of the parched earth under a fierce
tropical sun, and they give no protection against the scorching
rays. How much more satisfying and refreshing it is to
look at an avenue of luxuriant plane-trees, maples or limes
with ample shade beneath their leafy crowns !
But there are considerations of architecture and style, you
say. The trees with rich foliage have round, irregular forms,
which are unarchitectural and go badly with the severe
perpendicular and horizontal lines of stone buildings. For
this reason the best foliaceous tree from an architectural stand
point is the poplar, with its perpendicular lines and no shadows,
or, still better, the dry, branchless palm, which may have
furnished the motif for the characteristic Eastern columns
and capital, though it supports no weight itself. Granted ;
palms do look well between rows of Greek or Eastern marble
temples, where the style should be austere and ungenial ;
but unfortunately there are no temples in this petroleum
port. . . .
" Verzeihen Sic, darf ich fragen, sind Sic Herr Doktor
N. ? " Two sunburnt young men were standing before me,
with fair, unmistakably German faces and most original
costumes—something between Tyrolese national dress and
a bathing-suit. They had on shirts with broad turnover
collars open at the throat ; incredibly abbreviated, wide
shorts reaching only half down the thigh, bare knees, long
stockings, and gymnasium shoes, with field-glasses slung
over their shoulders, and cameras.
" Wie famos ! wollen Sic uns ein Autograf in unserem
Tagebuch geben ? " I was handed a notebook, and gave
them the desired autograph. They had come on foot all the
way from Syria, and intended to continue eastward into Asia,
with no luggage, so far as I could make out, except what they
were carrying ; not too much money ; and, what was worse,
without the usually indispensable passport and visa. How
they had got so far was a puzzle, but at any rate they had
managed it, and seemed in excellent form.
I walked on. At the end of the street looking out over the
sea was a beautiful park, with rich vegetation and a charming
little lake. On the way back wc were again overtåken by the
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