APPENDIX III 
371 
are worth about two shillings and tenpence, or two rupees two annas, and 
they run about seven to the sovereign. Rupees, useful on the Somali 
coast, run about fifteen to the sovereign. 
In Abyssinia “salts” or amole are the small change ; a square bar of hard 
crystallised salt 10 inches long by 2J inches square, tapered at both ends. 
Five go to the dollar at Addis-Abbaba, but the value varies with the 
distance from Lake Asal, near the Red Sea, whence the salt comes. 
Three cartridges go to a salt, obtainable at any market in Abyssinia. 
The new dollars struck in Europe, with Menelik’s head on the face, 
and the lion of Judah on the reverse, do not usually pass in the 
markets. 
Mules and Ponies . — A pack mule costs from thirty to thirty-five dollars, 
and goes from 2J to 2f miles an hour in the hills, 3 miles on the flat ; 
the usual load is 160 lbs., though at a pinch, for a short distance on the 
flat, 200 lbs. can be carried. 
The Ras of Harar keeps the selling of mules under his own supervision, 
as he gets two dollars on every mule bought or sold by his subjects. 
As regards the comparative merits of buying or hiring mules at Harar, 
it pays to buy, as twenty-two to twenty-five dollars’ hire are asked for each 
mule for the single journey from Harar to Addis-Abbaba, including the 
ten dollars for the man ; moreover, by hiring, one would be in the hands 
of the owners as to hours of marching. 
For carrying loads, the mules with old firing marks on the back and 
withers are the best, the absence of these marks denoting a young soft- 
skinned mule which has never borne a load, or a riding mule ; both being 
undesirable. 
It may be noted that here and there at villages on the routes in Abys- 
sinia, the unserviceable mules of a marching caravan can be sold by 
auction — a novel form of sale much appreciated — and a few new mules may 
be picked up at the same points. 
A good riding mule costs forty dollars and upwards. A riding horse 
costs from sixteen to twenty dollars, the price being kept down by special 
legislation. A pack-horse costs ten to fifteen dollars, but for this purpose 
horses are not so good as mules, having tender feet. Neither horses nor 
mules are shod. 
When buying riding mules it is well to remember that the Abyssinian, 
wearing his sword on the right, mounts on the off side of the animal. 
The European will do well, therefore, at first to do likewise, otherwise 
there may be trouble. 
Donkeys . — A donkey costs five dollars, and goes 2J miles an hour in 
the hills, 2J miles on the plains ; the load is from 80 to 100 lbs., and the 
latter weight may be allowed for in ordinary marching. For the trip of 
two days from Gildessa to Harar the hire is three dollars for four donkeys. 
Donkeys are obtainable at Zeyla and ply to Gildessa along the desert road, 
though of course they are inferior to camels for this purpose. 
Camels . — Somali camels are most useful for this desert journey from 
Zeila to Gildessa, and Dankali camels may be advantageously used as 
extra transport when crossing the Hawasli depression between the Harar 
Highlands and Shoa. From Zeila to Gildessa is about 160 miles ; from 
Laga Hardim across the Hawash depression some 60 miles. The agent 
who is sent to Harar to buy mules can arrange for a few hired Dankali 
camels with their pack-mats to be ready waiting at Laga Hardim to assist 
