NATIVE LOOMS 



Starting troin llu: British A^cnc)-, we cross llu: stream 

 that runs jjast the side of the comijoiiinl, ami, Icavino; 

 the Russian Embassy, and a little further on the hospital, 

 on our right, we descend i)y a rough and slippery path 

 to the bed of another shallow stream, ami ascend again 

 by an even worse track on the further side. We next 

 approach a stretch of rough grass-land, with little huts 

 and enclosures scattered over it, many of which are 



ffi.5a^^-^ 



inhabited by men whose chief occupation is weaving. 

 The looms are extremely primitive, consisting of stakes 

 dri\'en into the ground. On these they weave the loose 

 soft Abyssinian cotton into shammas. 



Proceeding on our way, past the group of weavers, 

 we come to the telephone office. This is a large circular 

 tuciil, the roof supported inside by a ring of posts, on 

 which are hung the rill<'s and shields of the guard. 

 Here we are lucky enough to timl .M. INIiihle, the Swiss 

 engineer in charge of the line. A curious spectacle is 

 afforded by the mixture of science and barbarism that 



