The Raymer enterprise., 1913-10-23
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made satisfactory recovery. In November.
1909. he had paraytc stroke which, depriving
him OF all speech and almost OF motion. entirely
incapaCitated him from all work Since then.
notably in 1910. he has on more than one occa-
sion been reported dead. and although these ru.
mors have been at once denied the fact remains
that for the last two or three years he has been
a mere hgurehead, the government OF the coun-
try having been carried out by council OF min
listers under the presidency OF Lii Yasu. the heir
apparent, and during this period 1t is doubtful
whether he has been seen by any one but a few
select court officials.
Lii Yasu. the heir.apparent is the son Of Meme
liks daughter, Schoagasch and Ras Michael. and
was born in 1897
Noyagers whose ways take them "somewheres
east OF Suez may know something of Djibouti.
but to the average person Djibouti is practically
unknown Suffice 1t to say that, although sit.
uacd in the French Somaliland protectorate. 1t
is practically the only port that serves the coun-
try OF Abyssinia.
From Dbouti single track (metregauge)
railway runs to DireD Dawa. some lS5 miles in
land. The trains run twice week and the jour
ney frequently takes II hours to accomplish.
passing through some OF the most desoate desert
country imaginable.
Dire.Dawa has grown up around the railway
terminus and as 1t is some 1900 feet above the
sea level Is much cooler than Djibout. The place
is not very large. but the wide streets and white
washed buildings give the place an air OF space
and cleanliness. There is large Arab and
Somai settlement adjoining Here one comes
under Abyssnan otfcialdom and ones baggage
has to pass the Abyssnan customs, usually not
very trying ordeal.
At Dire.Dawa travellers to Ads Ababa have to
arrange their own caravans for the Journey
Both mules and camels available but usually
mules are taken. as they cover the journey In
much quicker time than camels which are usual
ly only employed for heavy baggage and mer
chandise. One has choice OF three routes from
DreDawa to the capitalize Chercher route
by which one travels along the Cher.cher noun.
tain range through fine forest and amongst beau
uful pinetopped hills. This route Is rather long.
er than the others. but Is by far the most CON-
Portable. as 1t Is cooler and one may purchase
fresh provislons-milk, eggs. and sheep-from
the small AbyssInian villages that one passes
en- route. Camels are unable to take this track
owing to the many steep ascents and descents
which can only be managed by mule or donkey
The second trail is via the Asabot. passinp
along the foot OF the Cher.cher range and Joining
the former route near the Hawash river This
route passes through the fiat Danakil country
through great forests OF mimosa trees and occa
sional open plains. where one meets from time
to time enormous herds OF cattle and camels
guarded by nerce-looking Danakil shepherds
armed with spears and curved knives No pro
visions can be purchased on this route but Il
Is fairly good going except during the very dry
season before the rains begin. when water is
apt to be scarce.
The third route. the Bilan runs farther north
In the Danakil country. and though fat is very
trying on account Of the great heat and long
marches that have to be made from watering
place to watering place.
from Tchoba 1t Ia two days journey to Con.
dabourka at the foot Of the Balchi pass. Here
the track rises nearly 900 feet, a sheer ascent,
and the steepest climb on the journey. The path
Is simply cut along the mountain side and Mt
times one Is about six inches from drop OF 200
feet. From Balchi the road Is very uninterestinr.
passing through long rolling plains OF cultivated
land and about two days brings one in sight Of
the capital
me view OF the city as one approaches is very
me- large circle OF hills surrounds It, and
on small elevation running out into the center
OF the circle Is built the "guebi." or emperors
palace There are hardly any buildings OF impor.
lance and the guebl itself Is but a miscellaneous
collection OF semiEuropean and native h"tI."-.