The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-10-25
>eEE1E3ADv MnzR nK NeExy II 0zzA0aW Nzz1s

made a satisfactory recovery. In November.
1909 he had paraytc stroke which, deprfving
him of all speech and almost OF motion. entirely
incapacated 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 mere 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 it is doubtful
whether he has been seen by any one but few
select court officials.
Lii Yasu the her-apparent. is the son OF Meme
lik's daughter schoagasch. and Ras Michael and
born in 1897.
VoyagerA 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 Djibout a single track (metregauge)
railway to DreDawa, some 185 miles In
land. The trains twice week and the Jour
ney frequently takes IL hours to accomplish,
pa ssing through some of the most desolate desert
country imaginable.
Dire-Dawa has grown up around the railway
terminus and as 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
Somali settlement adjoining. Here comes
under Abyssinian oficiadom and ones baggage
has to pass the Abyssinian customs. usually not
a very trying ordeal
At Dire -Dawa travellers to Adis Ababa have to
arrange their own caravans for the journey.
Both mules and camels available. but usually
mules taken they cover the journey in
much quicker tine than camels, which are usual
ly only employed for heavy baggage and mer.
chandlse Ooe has choice of three routes from
Dire.Dawa to the capitalize Cher-cher route
by which one travels along the Cher-cher. noun
tain range through fine forest and amongst beau
tfu1 pinetopped hills. This route is rather long
than the others. but is by far the most COM
Portable, as 1t Is cooler. and may purchase
fresh provisons-mlk eggs. and sheep-from
the small Abyssinian villages that one passes
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. passing
along the foot of the Cher-cher range and Joining
the former route near the Hawash river. This
route passes through tho nat Danakil country
through great forests of mimosa trees and occa-
sional open plains, where meets from time
to time enormous herds Of cattle and camels
guarded by nerce-lookng Danakil shepherds
armed with spears, and curved knives. No pro
visions can be purchased on this route. but It
is fairly good going except during the very dry
season before the rains begin. when water II
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 1t 10 two days journey to Con-
dabourka at the foot Of the Balchi psss Here
the track rises nearly 900 feet, sheer ascent
and the steepest climb on 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 in sight Of
the capital
The view Of the city as one approaches is very
fine large circle Of hills surrounds It. and
on 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 is but miscellaneous
collection Of semtEuropeap and native ~siAs---