5i6 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



to Zeila or Jibuti. This was the one by which our caravan travelled. It 

 may be mentioned here, as an example of the good sense of the Emperor 

 Menelik in dealing with trade, that, on the representations of the Harrar 

 merchants, he consented last year to abolish for the present the export 

 duty on Abyssinian coffee. 



It will be noticed from the above figures that, both at Adis Ababa and 

 Harrar, the value of the imports considerably exceeds that of the exports. 

 Mr. Baird accounts for this by the supposition that during the unsettled 

 times which in Abyssinia preceded the accession of Menelik, a great deal 

 of treasure was buried ; this, now that the just and orderly government of 

 the emperor has made such concealment unnecessary, is being gradually 

 unearthed, and made available for the purchase of European goods. The 

 chief articles of import are the same which have already been mentioned 

 in speaking of British Somaliland ; and here also the natives everywhere 

 give preference to the American grey shirting or sheeting, which they use 

 for making tents, shirts, and trousers, over that manufactured in the United 

 Kingdom or India. Manchester, however, holds its own in chintz, twill, 

 doria (striped white cloth), and muslin (known locally as "shash"). 

 Turkey-red from Glasgow, used chiefly for saddle-cloths, is preferred to the 

 cheaper quality made in Germany. The princi'pal buyers of the silks, 

 satins, and velvets imported from France and Germany are the Emperor 

 and the Rases. The supply of arms and ammunition is entirely in the 

 hands of the French from Jibuti, but the market is overstocked with out- 

 of-date military rifles, such as Gras, of which, as I know on good authority, 

 there are quite 500,000 in the country at the present time. There is, 

 however, a demand for Express and Lee-Metfords, which find a ready sale. 

 The main exports of the country are gold, civet, ivory, coflfee, salt, and wax. 

 To these products must be added iron-ore, cotton, and tobacco, which as 

 yet are not exported, though there is no reason why they should not be. 

 Gold is brought from Wallega in the form of dust, from Beni Shongul in 

 rings, and from the other provinces generally in nuggets. The export of 

 ivory is increasing, owing to the new provinces conquered by the Emperor 

 Menelik, north-east of Lakes Rudolf and Stephanie, where large herds of 

 elephants still exist. Most of the ivory and gold is in the hands of the 

 emperor, the great and small vassals paying their tribute in these two com- 

 modities. Moreover, of each elephant killed only one tusk belongs to the 

 sportsman, the other going to the emperor. Civet is a secretion extracted 

 from certain glands of the male civet-cat ( Vivef-rn) ; it is principally exported 

 to France for the manufacture of scent. Salt is produced by the region 

 round Arho, in the north-east of Tigre. Wax comes chiefly from the Galla 

 country, the natives of which are in the habit of placing wicker-baskets in 



