The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-28
Descriptive Artirles.
THE RED-SEA LITToRAL.
A Description of the Country in
which the English Reinforcements
Will Probably Operate.

lie IOllOWln1, from iue Oh LOUIS 0tOOe-
Democrat, was written by an engineer in
the Egyptian army, and is of especial in
terest at this time
A trip down the Red Sea is not always
a pleasant one Even in mid-winter an
Englishman en- route to the East Indies
breads the voyage from Suez to the Straits
of Bab-el-Mandeb. In the narrow Gulf of
Suez fine opportunity is afforded of ex-
amining the opposite coasts of Africa and
Asia.
Once out into the Red Sea, the breadth
of water becomes so great that the coasts
are frequently invisible. But as the vessel
selects her path, first on one side, and then
on the other, to avoid the numerous dan
gerous rocks and reefs, it is plainly seen
that the coast retains almost unchanged its
general characteristics. The first point of
interest is the town of Jeddah, on the
Arabian coast and all regular steamers
touch there.
The next stopping point is Suakim,
nearly exactly half way between the head
of the Red Sea and the straits of Babel
Mandeb, or about $50 miles from Suez
On approaching it presents quite an attrac-
tive and picturesque appearance. The
white minarets of its two mosques and the
cleaning walls of its Government House
and several other public buildings, strongly
contrasted with the dark background of
distant hills, catch the eye with almost
dazzling effect The harbor is narrow and
crooked, so that vessels are compelled to
enter by daylight There is room for not
more than three or four large steamers in
the harbor proper. The town is mainly
built upon a low island, between which and
the mainland is shallow channel This
was spanned by causeway during the ad-
ministration of General Gordon, thus afford
inc free communication between the island
and shore. On the shore is large, ram
bling suburb, mostly inhabited by Haden-
dowa Arabs. In this suburb is large
caravansary and the market-place for ex-
change of commodities and trade between
the town and adjacent country. In the
town proper number of Greek merchants
have their shops. On the shore the trad
ers in horses, mules and camels ply their
vocation AS Suakim is the starting point
for caravans which carry trade into the in
terror, it is frequently a bustling place.
Its population is variable, sometimes, per-
haps, reaching 5000 or 10000
The plain on the mainland is ordinarily
a dry desert, but during the rain season of
the coast, which here occurs in the winter
months, it is covered with carpet of grass,
which attracts the focks and herds of the
Arabs from the wadies of the mountains.
Then the immediate vicinity Of Suakim is
quite pastoral and pleasing. But this is
an ephemeral freshness that soon vanishes
before the fierce heat of the spring and
summer sun. Being south of the Tropic
of Cancer, it enjoys the unenviable priv
ilege of having the sun in the zenith twice
in the year. Its temperature is, of course,
not one of its chief attractions. 1t has, in
fact, but few attractions, except to those
who are willing to risk health and comfort
in search of wealth by trade. The trade
was once extensive in slaves, gum, ivory,
ostrich feathers, ebony and other African
products. The destruction Of the slave
trade has injured all other branches of in
dustry, so that Suakim, perhaps, has seen
its best days. 4
THE ROADS TO BERBER AND KASsALA.
There are two principal routes from
Suakim into the interior-frst, the one to
Berber, on the Nile, which is most used,
and, second, one to Kassala, on the Cash.
As both routes run through vast deserts,
with few watering places, they will proba-
bly, before long be whitened by the bones
of English soldiers. They are already
marked by the skeletons of many slaves
and their captors and the animals of car
avans. General Gordon as much as ten
years ago advocated railway from Suakim
to Berber, and an actual survey of such a
road was made by Colonel Prout. There
is no doubt of the practicability of building
this railway, and its Importance at this
time could not be overestimated.
From Suakim southwark there is but
little change in the coast The mountains
grow higher and attain an elevation of be-
tween 5000 and 1000 feet, even before
we reach the Alpine region of Africa,
Abyssinia.
THE PORT OF MAssowAH.
Massowah is the next point of impor-
tance. tits situated on small coral island
of the same name. This is the principal
of small outlying group of islands of the
Dahlac Archipelago. This group partly
closes the mouth Of the Gulf of Arkiko,
which is but shallow indentation of the
coast, scarcely worthy of the name of gulf.
The names of the islands around Masso-
wah are l. Gerrar, l. Tau-el-houd, and |.
Els Shiek Said. l have given these names
as [ understood them from the natives.
They are variously and strangely spelled
on the English, French and German maps.
Isle Tau-el-H Hnud takes its name from its
shape, the name meaning the "tail of a
fish" Isle Sheik Said is so named because
the tomb of saint named Said is there
found. All of these islands are coral
formed, and of course are nearly bare of
vegetation, white and glaring in the hot sun.
The town of Massoway presents very
much the same appearance as Suakim at a
distance, and for the same reasons. 1t is
perhaps the more attractive, as its circle of
sister islets add variety to the scene. The
Governors palace, on point of Isle Tau
el-Houd, two mosques with tall minarets, a
Catholic church and mission station, the
consulates of France and England, the
Government building or "divan, and some
dozen houses owned by Greek, Jew and
Hindoo traders, being located on favored
and prominent parts of the island, take
complete possession of the eye, and deceive
one greatly as to the size and character of
the town. But on landing one is quickly
undeceived Besides the buildings named
there are none but the most wretched huts
built mostly of sea-grass straw and palm
leaves and boughs. The island is about
three-quarters of mile long and nearly a
half mile wide. One-half of it is occupied
by the town, the other by cemetery
And strange to say, the cisterns for catch
ING the rainwater of the wet season are all
dug in the cemetery, and when you come
to a hole in that part of the island you are
nowise certain whether you shall find there
in living water or defunct Musselman.
ITS PICTURESQUE POPULATION.
About 800 or 1000 people dwell on
L IL