The Red Cloud chief., 1913-10-23
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made q satisfactory recovery. In November
1909. he had paralytic stroke which. deprivins
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 RI.
mors have been at once denied the fact remains
that for the last two or three years he has been
a mere fgurehead. the government Of the coun-
try having been carried out by q 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 q few
select court offcials.
Lii Yasp. the heirapparent. is the son Of Meme
liks daughter. Schoagasch. and Ras Michael and
was born in 1897.
Voyagers whose ways take them "somewheres
east Of Suez" may know something OF Djiboutt
but to the average person Djbouti is practically
unknown. Sufice 1t to say that, although sit
uated in the French Somaliland protectorate. It
Is practically the only port that serves the coun
try Of Abyssinia.
From Djibouti single track (metregauge)
railway runs to Dire.Dawa, some 1856 miles in.
land. The trains run twice a week and the jour
ney frequently takes II hours to accomplish.
passing through some of the most desolate desert
country imaginable
Dire-Dawa has grown up around the railway
terminus and as It is some 5000 feet above the
sea level is much cooler than Djibout The place
s not very large. but the wide streets and white
washed buildings give the place an air of space
and cleanliness. There Is q large Arab and
Somali settlement adjoining Here one comes
under Abyssinian oflcialdom and ones baggage
has to pass the Abyssinian customs. usually not
a very trying ordeal.
At Dire eDawa travellers to Ads Ababa have to
arrange their own caravans for the Journey.
Both mules and camels are available. but usually
mules are taken. as they cover the journey In
much quicker time than camels. which are usual
~ only employed for heavy baggage and mer.
chandise. One has choice OF three routes from
Dire.Dawa TO the capitalize Cher.cher route
by which one travels along the Cher-cher. NOM.
tain range through fine forest and amongst beau.
tiful pinetopped hills. This route Is rather long.
er than the others, but ia by far the most COM
Portable. as It is cooler and one may purchase
fresh provisions-milk. eggs, and sheep-from
the small Abyssinian villages that one passes
en- route. Cames 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, passing
along the foot OF the Cher-cher range and Joining
the former ronte 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 Danakil shepherds
armed with spears and curved knives. No pro-
visions can be purchased 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 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 It is two days Journey to Con-
daoourka 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
ts simply cut along the mountain side. and at
times one Is about six inches from drop of 200
rect From Balchi the road Is very embarrassing
passing through long rolling plains OF cultivated
iahd and about two days brings one in sight OF
the capital
The view Of the city as one approaches is very
nne large circle Of hills surrounds It, and
on a small elevation running out into the center
OF the circle Is built the "guebi." or emperor's
palace There are hardly any buildings Of impor
tance. and the guebi itself 10 but miscellaneous
collection OF semiEuropean and native buildings.