Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-10-24
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made satisfactory recovery In November.
1909 he had paralytic stroke which, depriving
him of all speech and almost Of motion, entirely
incapacitated him from all work. Since then,
notably In 1910, he has 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 fgurehead 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 Few
select court officials.
Lii Yasut the heir-apparent. is the. son of Meme
lik's daughter Schoagasch. and Ras Michael and
born in 1897.
voyagers whose ways take them -"somewheres
east of Suez" may know something of Djibouti,
but to the average person Djibouti is practically
unknown. Suffice it to say that, although sit
uated in the French Somaliland protectorate. 1t
is practically the only port that serves the coun-
try of Abyssinia
From Djbouti a single track (metregauge)
railway to Dlre-Dawa, some 1856 miles in
land The trains twice week and the jour
ney frequently takes IL hours to accomplish,
passing through some of the most desolate desert
country imaginable.
Dire-Dawa has grown up around the railway
terminus and 1t is 5000 feet above the
level is much cooler than Djibouti. 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
Soma settlement adjoining Here comes
under Abysslnian ofiiciadom and ones baggage
has TO pass the Abyssinian customs, usually not
a very trying ordeal.
- At Dire-Dawa travellers to Ads Ababa have to
arrange their for the Journey.
Both mules and camels are available. but usually
mules taken. they cover the journey in
much quicker time than camels which usual
" only employed for heavy baggage and mer-
chandise. One has choice of three routes from
Dre-Dawa to the capitalize Cher-cher route.
by which one travels along the Cher-cher. noun
tain range through fine forest and amongst beau
tiful pne-topped hills. This route is rather long
er than the others, but is by far the most COM
Portable. as 1t is cooler. and may purchase
fresh provisions-milk eggs. and sheep-from
the small Abyssinian villages that one passes
route. Camels 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. passing
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 ferce-looking Danaki shepherds
armed with spears and curved knives. No pro-
visions can be purchased this route but It
is fairly good going except during the very dry
season before the rains begin, when water is
apt to be
The third route. the Bilan runs farther north
in the Danakil country. and though fiat 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 ii Is two days Journey to Con
dabourka at the foot OF the Bachi pass Here
the track rises nearly 900 feet, a sheer ascent.
and the steepest climb the Journey The path
is simply cut along the mountain side and at
times one is about six inches from drop of 200
feet. From Balchi the road is very uninteresting.
passing through long rolling plains of cultivated
land. and about two days brings one In sight of
the capital.
The of the ttv
fine. large circle of hills surrounds IT. and
on a small elevation running out into the center
of the circle is built the "guebi" or emperors
palace. There are hardly any buildings of impor-
tance, and the guebi itself is but miscellaneous
collection OF semi-European and nati-o - IS.