5IO A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



The trade of the Protectorate is considerably handicapped by the want 

 of direct communication between its ports and Europe. While Jibuti, 

 30 miles distant, is regularly visited by the French mail-packets, besides 

 being connected by telegraph with Marseilles, Zeila and Berbera are 

 entirely dependent on one small local steamer belonging to Messrs. 

 Cowasjee Dinshaw and Bros., wliich calls at Zeila once a week and then 

 returns via Berbera, to Aden. Thus letters from Europe take five days 

 from Zeila to Aden, a distance of 120 miles. Telegraphic communication 

 there is none. The only ocean-going steamers which touch on the coast 

 are the few bringing rice direct from Calcutta. A new line of smaller 

 boats has lately begun running from Busrah (Balsorah) in the Persian 

 Gulf with cargoes of dates. With these exceptions every article of import 

 or e.\port has to be transshipped at Aden. 



Nor are the ports of the Protectorate any better off, compared with 

 their French rival, as regards communication with the interior. The 

 French are constructing a railway from Jibuti to Harrar (a distance of 

 200 miles) which is already open for traffic as far as Lassarah (163 kil.). 

 The length of the caravan-route from Zeila to Harrar is 180 miles, from 

 Berbera to Harrar 243 miles. Both routes are mere camel-tracks, wheeled 

 traffic being unknown in the Protectorate. The principal feature of the 

 Zeila trade is the export from the fertile region of Harrar, the Galla country 

 and the adjoining districts of Abyssinia, and the import of European and 

 American goods to the same. It is clear that as soon as the French 

 railway is completed to Harrar, a great deal, if not the whole, of this 

 traffic will be deflected to Jibuti. The trade of Berbera being mostly 

 with the interior of the Protectorate and the native tribes beyond, is con- 

 sequently not subject to this outside competition. During the past two 

 years Zeila has profited by the outbreak of tribal disturbances in the 

 French protectorate, which made the Jibuti - Harrar route unsafe for 

 caravans ; on the other hand the trade of Berbera with the hinterland 

 has been injured by the temporary insecurity caused by the rising of the 

 Moslem fanatic popularly known as the " Mad Mullah." 



The chief articles of import are : cotton piece-goods, grey shirting 

 (locally known as " Americani ■•), silks, rice, and dates; the bulk of the 

 export trade consists of coffee, skins, gums and resins, ivory, mother-of-pearl, 

 salt, ghee, and live stock. 



