The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-01

cause it involves the passage of the expe-
dltlon through territory closely associated
territory which is consequently just as
much Egyptian as Fashoda itself At Sobat,
at the mouth of the river of the same
name the Sirdar planted an Egyptian gar
rison only the other day But it is worth
while recalling the fact that Sobat was
an Egyptian post as far back as 1875 In
fact, it was the first of the posts estab-
lished by Gordon between Khartum and
Gondokoro for the purpose of checking the
stations branched out east and west into
the heart OF the slave-trading districts.
One Of these, Nessar, will be found about
80 miles up the Sobat river. For some
two hundred miles therefore, Major March
and proposed to travel through Egyptian
territory.
1t is, of course. impossible to follow the
proposed route Of the expedition from So
bat to Ads Abeba, because the point at
which the expedition must leave the Sobat
river is uncertain. But 1t is very doubtIul
AS is suggested-for anything ike 800
miles. In connection with the latter as
sumption it will be remembered that the
sirdar in one of his dispatches stated that
the nearest Abyssinian post to the Nile
was about $50 miles up the Sobat. Can 1t be
stepping from the Fafdherbe into the arms
OF an Abyssinian force, which, after an
etfuslVe welcome, would at once escort the
compatriots of Prince Henri dOrleans and
the Marquis De Bonchamps with affection
ate eagerness to the Abyssinian capital.
such complaisance is a good deal to expect
Putting aside this romantic possibility,
the expedition would probably have to reck-
on on tramp of some 400 miles before
reaching King Menelek's headquarters, and,
as the latter lie 5000 feet above the sea
level, the going would not be of the
easiest description. But there would be no
danger and not much difficulty in picking
up the route. Communication between the
Sudan and Ankober, the old capital OF
Abyssinia, has in the past been, frequent,
and there must be several trade routes.
Part or the Journey moreover, must nave
been traversed by Bonchamps in his abor-
tive attempt to join hands with Marchand,
and probably by this time the latter has
the Bonchamps itinerary in his pocket.
When Marchand arrives at Ads Abeba
he Will visit singularly interesting set
tlement, which q few years ago was not
in existence, and a few years hence will
be in ruins. An excellent description, Illus
trated by a sketch map of Ads Abeba, is
to be found in Count Gleichen's recently
published book, with the Mission to Men
elek, timely contribution to the rather
jejune and mostly obsolete literature of
Abyssinia. Count Geichen accompanied
Mr.. Rennen Rodd's mission last year as
intelligence officer and from his narrative
1t appears that Ads Abeba is rather
huge camp than a town, and that 1t covers
a very large area at the foot of the En-
lotto hills. The settlement consists of
great mass of circular or elliptical huts
with matched conical roofs the Emperor's
Enclosure occupying a small hill In the CEN
ter. The site is only a temporary one, and
will shortly have to be changed, as all the
wood in the vicinity is being cut down and
consumed, and soon the distance from the
forest will become inconveniently great.
When that occurs the capital of Abyssinia
Will move on, much as the March Hare
and the Halter moved on round the tea
table in Wonderland The next site chosen
VIII probably be Metya, district lying to
the west of Entotto.
Passing over the problematical meeting
between Marchand and other French EN-
may reckon that his route from the latter
place to Jibutil would follow, at any rate
as far as Harar, that of the Rennell Rodd
mission. From Ads Abeba to Harar there
are twenty-five marches, totaling go miles
From Harar to Jibutil is distance of about
200 miles. From Ads Abeba TO the French
pert. therefore, should not occupy much
more than six weeks. Allowing for the de-
lay in making the necessary preparations,
we may assume that Major Marchand would
arrive at Ads Abeba by. at the latest. the
middle of March. TO get to Jibutil by the
beginning of June he would have to start
from King Menelek' 3 capital about the mid
ole of April. 1t would seem, then, that a
stay of a month at Ads Abeba is contem-
plated. 1t may be added that in fixing the
date of his arrival at Jibutil as about
into account the Abyssnian rains, which
come on at the end of May or the begin
ming of June, and render the low country
Jibutil, the objective of Marchand's pro-
posed journey: lies on the southern shore
Of the Gulf of Tajurra. The frontiers of the
French protectorate. which march with
those of British Somaliland were settled
by the Anglo-French agreement of 1888.
The first French factory was established at
Obok as far back as 1862, and repeated eff
forts have been made to render the colony
commercial success, but so far with little
result. More recently there has been talk
in Paris of seriously terrifying Jibutil,
which has now superseded ObOk as the
chief French settlement in that region. AS
yet however, nothing practical has been
done in this direction. possibly owing to the
fact that Great Britain possesses some
rocky islets at the entrance to the Gulf of
Tajurra, which it would not be difficult to
fortify pari passu with any warlike cree
tions at Jibutil or elsewhere within this fine
harbor