The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-16 00:00:00

THE FRENCH IN THE. RED SEA.

(From a Correspondent of the Times.)
ADEN, Nov. 27.
Not long ago I reported some suspicious move-
ments on the coast of Abyssinia in connection with
a politico•religious association of Europeans, who
are making strenuous efforts to gain an ascendancy
in that country. It was intimated on that occasion
that French officials in Egypt and elsewhere were
cognizant of the design, and were generally sup-
posed to be secretly fostering it. Advices just re-
ceived from Massowah tend to show that the scheme
is being consolidated under the special auspices of
the French Government. A new Consul, in the
person of M. Gilbert, has lately reached Massowah,
accredited to Dejai Nagoosi, the present ruler of
Tigre, and furnished with instructions to protect
all the Abyssinians under the jurisdiction of that
chief, and to discourage the traffic in Christian
slaves. It appears, moreover, that the port of Adool,
or Adoolis, has been ceded to France by Dejai
Nagoosi, and that a French vessel of war is shortly
expected in the Red Sea, to take possession of the
newly acquired territory. As intimately connected
with tl-,e Fl-,,,,,ct thus about to be inaugurated, I
mar ale ,:lention that permission has been obtained
from the Porte to build a Roman Catholic church
on the island of Massowah, to be under the special
protectorate of France.
The foregolnq arrangement is presumed tope the
result of an Lrnbassy sent to Paris by Dejai Na-
goosi, and the q?o pro quo which he is to receive
for the concessions granted is avowedly the counte•
nance and support of the Imperial Government.
That fact alone is ominous of further interference,

and the consequence is likely to prove most discs
trous to the interests of the Abyssinian Emperor
Theodorus, and at the same time to give France su-
preme ascendancy over the whole country. The pro-
vince of Tigre, comprising the principal ports on the
coast, is nominally subject to the Emperor, who re-
sides at Gondar ; but for years past and to the present
moment it has been virtually ruled by its own
chiefs, who have maintained an incessant warfare
with the Supreme Government. By enlisting the
political co-operation of France, and by securing
the sympathy of Catholicism through the encorage-
ment given to Romish missions in Tigre, Dejai
Nagoosi bids fair not only to secure his own inde-
pendence, but ultimately also to acquire the sove-
reignty over the whole Of Abyssinia. Material aid in
the shape of money and arms has already found its
way into Tigre through the church party, and the
projected French settlement at Adoolis will be a
convenient centre whence to give better direction
and efficiency to ulterior proceedings.
By accrediting a representative to Dejai Nagoosi
France has officially recognised hisindependence of
the Abssyinian Emperor. This recognition was
obviously indispensable to give validity to the ces-
sion by the former of any portion of the Abyssinian
territory. The British Government may not feel
itself called upon to dispute the title-deed, though I
doubt not that Theodorus, to whom our own Consul,
Mr. Plowden, is accredited, will not fail to call its
attention to this act of hostility on the part of
France. The latter power is evidently more dis-
posed to recognise de facto rulers in these parts
than in the Italian Duchies, for the simple reason, I
suppose, that it suits her interest better. She may
deny it, if she pleases, nevertheless it is indispu-
table that for some time past France has been
hankering after a settlement in the Red Sea. About
ten years ago a place called Idd, on the African
side, was purchased by a Frenchman ; and,
although the then existing Government of France
disowned being privy to the bargain, nevertheless
a French frigate passed through Aden not long
after, supplied with artisans and materials for com-
mencing a station there, and I believe the idea was
eventually abandoned owing to the insecurity of
the anchorage and other serious drawbacks. Cama-
ran, on the Arabian side, was the next spot fixed
upon, and was fully surveyed by the French steamer
Caiman in 1854 ; but, as that island belonged to the
Turks, the political difficulties in the way of its
acquisition could not be surmounted. There can be
no doubt, however, that the object has been
gained at last by the cession of Adoolis ; the
intelligence from Massowah is explicit on that
point, and confirms the announcement lately
made in the Journal du Havre that the Abys-
sinian King had ceded to France the port
of Massowah, on the Red Sea. There is an im-
portant mistake in the name, for the island of Mas-
sowah belongs to the Porte, and has a Turkish
garrison and governor ; but, although the Moniteur
de la Flotte took advantage of that error to question
the truth of any concession having been made to
France in this quarter, the fact is undeniable, and
the port of Adoolis, from which the site of the an-
cient city of that name is distant about 15 miles in-
land, is the station elect. It is situated towards the
extremity of Gubbet Ducnoo, to which Lord Va-
lentia gave the name of Ansley Bay, and is about
40 miles to the south of .Massowah. Moresby gives
the following description of the Bay :—" Gubbet
Ducnoo is formed between the land of Hurtow Peak
on the east and the land of Geedan on the west,
and Dissee Island lies in the entrance, with a chan-
nel leading on each side; the eastern one is a mile
broad in the narrowest part, and the western one
is of considerable width. The breadth of the en-
trance of this passage from shore to shore is 12
miles ; half way up it is little more than four ; it
then spreads out again, and is 8 miles broad at
the bottom. Its extreme breadth is 30 miles. The
soundings are 44 fathoms, mud, at the western en-
trance, decreasing gradually to 20 fathoms, mud, in
the lower part, and 16 to 12 fathoms are found
close to the shore. Northerly winds blow directly
into it ; a vessel would then, perhaps, have some
difficulty in getting out. The surprising difference
in the fertility of the soil in this place is remark-
able, the bay being bordered by low land, producing
rich pastures, with grass of great length, plenty of
cattle, and a great number of large antelopes. There
are some ruins on the west coast occupying much
ground, and an extensive burial-ground near them,
but no inscriptions. Freshwater may be procured."
Another officer of the Indian navy who visited the
place in 1849 confirms this account of the fertility
of the district, adding that indigo,grew wild and in
great abundance on all the adjacent hills. The
same gentleman succeeded in reaching the site of
Adoolis, the ruins of which he represents as extend-
ing ()Ter an area. of 15 miles, and among them were
rin,wromi large blocks of mlrble, but without in-
scriotions. .

Toe reader of Eastern history will recognise in
Adoolis one of the four great Abyssinian emporia of .
the Indian trade in ancient times, the remaining
three being Azab, Axum, and Meroe. Of these
Adool, or Adoolis, appears to have been the most
renowned, owing to its highly favourable position
in the Red Sea, as also its fertility and safe anchor-
age. The skill of the " children of Adool" in ship-
building is eulogized in the .Moollaka of Trifa, a
famous Arabian poet of the sixth century, and it
was in the same century that, instigated thereto by
Justinian, the Abyssinian Nejachi, or King, known
to the Westerns by the nrme of Eliabaas, built 700
vessels at Adool, and with the co-operation of a
Roman fleet transported 70,000 Abyssinians into
Arabia, and effected the conquest of Yemen.
These few reminiscences of the past history of
Adoolis bespeak its eligibility as a commercial sta-
tion, and although it is improbable that the wares
of the Indian market will ever resume the old route
by the Red Sea, nevertheless, as the trade of Abys-
sinia alone is already considerable, and is, more-
over, susceptible of increase to almost any extent,
a well organized settlement at the port of Adoolis
has everything to recommend it. It will interfere
little, if at all, with the trade of Alen, consequently
France need not anticipate any opposition on that
score from the British. Aden is certainly more.
conveniently situated in respect of the African coast
on this side the Straits of Babelmandeb ; but there
can be no doubt that Adoolis, under wise ma-.
nagement, might in a short time be made to
rival its successor, Massowah, and eventually to
become the great outlet for the trade of Abyssinia
and the country beyond, which now finds its way
into Egypt through that port via the Red Sea, and
overl'lnd through Nubia.
The only danger in the projected scheme is that
France will not rest satisfied with the general pur-
suits of commerce, but will seek to establish an
exclusive political ascendancy over Acyssinia,
which may be injurious to British interests in the
East. It is wall known that the ancient EthiopianS
under Sabacon invaded Egypt and overthrew the
native dynasty ; and not many years ago the Abys-
sinians repulsed the Turco-Arab troops commanded
by Knrsehid Bey. The courage of the Abys-
sinians, and of their neighbours and kinsmen ;
Gallas, is notorious, and, trained in European tac-
tics, they would prove more than a match the
present Egyptian army. With such a powerful.
ally on the confines of Egypt, France would pos-
sess an overwhelming influence over that country,
independent in a great measure of her own re-
sources in the Mediterranean • and political com-
plications are certainly possible which may render
such a preponderance more than menacing to our
legitimate position in the East.
There is no undue suspicion in these foreshadow-
ings, and France will best show that our fears are
utterly groundless by restricting her future agency
in Abyssinia to the development of commerce, and
to promoting the peaceful arts and sciences among
its half-civilised populations.
Tier Majesty's ship Cyclops left Aden on the 7th
inst. to complete the survey for the telegraphic
cable between Aden and Kurrachee. On this oc-
casion Captain Pullen will take up his former
soundings at Ras-el-Hadd and continue them to
Muscat, thence in a north-easterly direction across
the gulf to the coast of Mekran, and then along that
coast to Kurrachee. It is presumed that this course