208 



NOETH-EAST AFEICA. 



intersected serving as channels for the floods during the rare rainfalls. The 

 upper terrace is itself separated from the plain of the Danakils by a second 

 somewhat less elevated cliff. Although the station of Obok suffers greatly from 

 drought, the district might be reclaimed, and travellers, comparing the vegetation 

 of Obok with the naked and burning rocks of Aden, describe this new station as 

 an oasis. On sinking wells in the valley water is everywhere found at a depth of 

 from 3 to 5 feet, a little brackish near the shore, but perfectly sweet farther inland. 

 King Menelik has granted a formal concession to a French explorer to build a 

 narrow-gauge railway between Ankober and Obok. Many of the caravans coming 



Fig. 70.— Obok. 

 Scale 1 : 54.000. 



Sands exposed 

 at low water. 



to 32 



Feet. 



Peplhs. 



32 to 80 

 Feet. 



80 to 160 



Feec 



2,200 Yards. 



160 Feet and 

 upwards. 



from Shoa have already commenced trading with this settlement. The extent of 

 the lands on the northern shore of Tajurah Bay that have been conceded to 

 France is estimated at 1,200 square miles. 



The commercial rivalry existing between the European nations, which has 

 made Zei'la an English city, and which now creates the French town of Obok on 

 this coraline African coast, also caused an Italian colony to spring up on the same 

 seaboard in 1870. Southern Abyssinia, till recently almost cut off from the world, 

 will thus possess for the exportation of its commodities three maritime ports 

 belonging to as many different foreign powers. No serious attempts to utilise the 

 town of Assah were made till 1882. The new town, which already possesses 

 several buildings in the European style, lies 72 miles directly north of Obok, and 



