Smyrna times., 1935-09-12
WORLDS EYES
ON Adds ABABA
Ethiopian Capital is the Only
Real City In the Entire
Empire
HAS SPLENDID CLIMATE

box of the talo-Ethiopian political
situation, and only settlement in
the empire that merits the name
city"
adds Ababa is the sole place
in the country showing marked
signs of modern development, yet
in the shadow Of these improve
ments, ancient Ethiopia still lives"
says the National Geographic So
ciety.
The city is situated high up in
the Ethiopian mountains, near the
geographic center of the empire.
To reach it a traveller must ira
verse the dusty caravan routes or
board a train at Djibouti. French
Somaliland, for long hours of rid
ing through torrid plains. and roll
Ing foothills to the central plateau
region.
Has Splendid Climate.
Nesting among eucalyptus-for-
ested hills. Adds Ababa has a
splendid climate. which along with
other attractions. has been an impor-
tant factor in its growth to a city
! OF 10000 inhabitants. Several thou
sand of its residents are foreign
ers, notably British Indians, British
Arabs, Greeks, and Armenians.
Adds Ababa hills number more
than those of Rome. The royal pal
ace, audience hall and new parlia-
ment building top one small hill. On
others rise many prepossessing
buildings. including villas of FIVE
European legations, hotels. two gov
ernment hospitals and churches.
There are several schools. conduct
ed mostly by Ethiopian clergy and
foreign missionaries. Recently Ethi-
opian students have been sent for
advanced training TO the United
States. England. France, and Switz-
erland. In many of the city's wide,
winding streets. rough cobbleS lately
have been replaced by macadam and
asphalt surfaces. Electric lighting
is becoming more prevalent. due to
the founding of small private
plants. Since the piping of water
from Mount Intotto has been COM
pleted. natives can purchase in the
market a five-gallon tin of water
for a penny. They can also buy i'm
ported foods in the stores. Sound
pictures are heard In the capitals
theaters and there is telegraph
service, and an air-mail service to
Diibouti.
AT present, the country has al
most no roads. Ethiopians bringing
leopard skins, monkey furs and
other articles of commerce to the
bazaar at Adds Ababa, pile them
on the backs of camels and sure
footed donkeys that pick their way
over stony mountain trails. Since
1892 the government has been build
ing two roads out of Adds Ababa.
One leads so miles northeast to-
ward Dessye, the other 100 miles
southeast toward Jimma. When
these are completed coffee from the
south and hides and skins from the
north will probably pour much more
rapidly into the city.
Wealthy Have Cars.
"A few of the capitals wealth
ier citizens own automobiles, but
many of them still take pride in
riding gaily caparisoned mules, fol-
lowed by servants on foot. Automo-
biles feel their way carefully
through the streets sometimes
choked with mules, donkeys, and
jaywalking pedestrians. Streets are
especially congested on Saturdays
when about 10000 purchasers
throng the marketplace TO buy salt.
honey In goatskin bags, cotton
sheeting and other commodities.
Through the crowds Of dark-skinned
Ethiopians plod came@s laden with
sheets of corrugated iron used for
much of the city's roonng. Tribal
chiefs from remote villages, wear
Ing Hon name collars ana carrying
gilded shields. mingle with soldiers
In khaki uniforms.
AT night these same streets are
nearly deserted. Since most Of the
streets are unlighted, bugle at
nightfall sounds curfew for all
Ethiopians. Foreigners who venture
.hrooH II fho efroofr affor dorL
are warned to carry lanterns. Dur
ing the coronation of Bthiopia's
Emperor Halle Selassie !, four and
a half years ago, some OF the main
streets were lighted by electricity.
But this was considered an unneces-
sary expense, and economy has
since caused the removal Of many
Of the poles and wires"