Chapter XXXIII: Appendix: (routes Partly Outside the Sudan.) (2)

Beyond Sogada the road itself presents no great difficulties, but the absence of traffic[40] has allowed the thorny bushes to close in on it to such an extent as to very seriously interfere with loaded or riding camels almost the whole way to Gira.

Once the Setit is reached, there is no real difficulty about water, but after the first 15 miles or so below Maietib the water is only accessible at certain places. The further you descend the river, the broader the strip of broken ground becomes on each side of the stream, the further the road keeps from it, and the wider apart are the watering places.

Probably the best plan when marching along the valley is to spend the heat of the day on the river, and the night on the plateau above.

Water should be carried in fantasses, as skins get cut to pieces by the thorns.

Cutting tools are desirable.

No supplies are obtainable nearer than Gedaref on the Setit. There are no settled inhabitants east of the village of Wad Heleiwa, 11½ miles E. of Sofi on the Atbara.

---------------+--------------------+---------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
---------------+-------------+------+---------------------------------
_Takarashorit_ | — | — |This appears to be the name of
| | |some wells in the bed of the
| | |Gash, about 45 miles above
| | |Kassala. If not constantly used,
| | |these wells are quickly filled in
| | |by the sand; but as the water is
| | |not more than 6 feet to 10 feet
| | |below the surface, they are
| | |easily opened out again. The bed
| | |here is sandy and about 120 yards
Ambarab | — | — |wide. Ambarab is the name given
| | |to a grassy, and in the rains
| | |marshy, place about 1½ miles
| | |further up stream on the left
| | |bank.
| | |
| | |There is a road from here to
| | |Agordat. The road to Sogada leads
| | |generally in a S. direction for
| | |the most part over level ground
| | |covered with more or less thick
| | |bush, which offers no serious
| | |obstacle to camels in single
| | |file.
| | |
| | |There are several tracks, used
| | |probably at different times of
| | |the year. There are a few slight
| | |ascents and descents, but nothing
| | |at all serious.
| | |
_Sogada_ | 18 | 18 |The road passes through some low
| | |stony hills partially covered
| | |with thorny bush, and at 18 miles
| | |it leaves the village of Sogada
| | |about ¾ mile on the left high up
| | |on the S.W. slopes of J. Argoji,
| | |the highest hill in the immediate
| | |neighbourhood. The village did
| | |not appear to contain more than
| | |25 tukls.
| | |
| | |There is a large and deep well at
| | |the foot of the hill, but the
| | |water was reported to be bad.
| | |
Khor Angaleib | 1 | 19 |Track now crosses a level plain
| | |enclosed on all sides by hills,
| | |with openings to the W. After
| | |crossing the khor, signs of
| | |recent dura cultivation were seen
| | |at intervals on both sides of the
| | |road.
| | |
_Khor Gersat_ | 3 | 22 |Here there is a large well on the
| | |N. side of the khor, which gives
| | |a plentiful supply of good water.
| | |There are no tukls actually at
| | |the well, as the inhabitants
| | |prefer to build their houses on
| | |the hill sides, but there are
| | |several settlements in the
| | |immediate neighbourhood, all of
| | |which are included under the
| | |district name of Sogada.
| | |
| | |The inhabitants are Baza, or
| | |Badein, or Kunama. They are very
| | |much afraid of the Bazas of the
| | |Setit, who raid them
| | |occasionally, they say, under
| | |Abyssinian leadership, but they
| | |seem to be friendly with the Beni
| | |Amer, whose merchants purchase
| | |dura from them. The Sheikh’s name
| | |is Haidar Wad Ibrahim.
| | |
Dinti | 2¼ | 24¼ |From here the track proceeds
| | |nearly due S., but winds about a
| | |good deal amongst low hills and
| | |through thick bush, which, with
| | |one or two steep-banked khors,
| | |greatly impede the march of
| | |loaded camels.
| | |
| | |The hamlet of Dinti is passed
| | |about 1½ miles to the left on the
| | |slopes of J. Dinti. The
| | |inhabitants of Lakatakura were
| | |camped in this neighbourhood, but
| | |whether they had left their home
| | |on account of the failure of
| | |their water supply, or from fear
| | |of the Abyssinians, it was
| | |difficult to make out.
| | |
| 3¼ | 27½ |After some more tedious windings
| | |the track descends into a level
| | |plain, bounded by the Atbara on
| | |the W., and Setit on the S., and
| | |on the E. by an apparently
| | |continuous range of hills, at the
| | |foot of which lies the Baza
| | |village of Lakatakura.
| | |
Khor Gullui | 2½ | 30 |This khor is a considerable
| | |obstacle, being at least 15 feet
| | |deep and perhaps 30 yards wide.
| | |The sides are steep at regular
| | |crossing places. A few miles to
| | |the W., near J. Hamid, the water
| | |stands for a long time in the
| | |khor after the rains. That place
| | |is often referred to by natives
| | |as Gullui, and it seems to be on
| | |the old frontier of Hamrans, Beni
| | |Amer and Bazas.
| | |
| | |There is some Baza cultivation
| | |near the Khor Gullui.
| | |
J. Sabun | 5 | 35 |From here on to J. Sabun, a small
| | |isolated hill said to be on the
| | |frontier between Hamrans and
| | |Bazas, the track passes through
| | |very thick thorn bush, which
| | |greatly impedes loaded camels.
| | |
Khor Sanasaba | 3¼ | 38¼ |The track leaves J. Sabun just on
| | |its right and turns more to the
| | |E. The thorns are less
| | |troublesome, and patches of
| | |cultivation and open spaces with
| | |high grass are passed.
| | |
Khor Lakisaba | 3 | 41¼ |Track continues through the same
| | |class of country nearly due E.,
| | |and after ascending the Khor
| | |Lakisaba for about 3 miles, it
| | |leaves it and ascends its left
| | |bank, making straight for the
_Halting-place_| 5¾ | 47 |hills. Eventually it enters the
| | |valley of the Lakisaba, and a
| | |halt was made in its bed in a
| | |spot enclosed between the hills
| | |of J. Komkom and J. Agachina.
| | |
| | |There was no better reason for
| | |the selection of this halting-
| | |place, which was at least a mile
| | |off our road, than that it was
| | |perhaps the nearest point to the
| | |water at the head of the Khor
| | |Lakisaba, to which loaded camels
| | |could go without considerable
| | |difficulty. This water, the only
| | |water within about 20 miles in
| | |any direction, is said to be
| | |contained in a large cleft in the
| | |rock about 1 hour’s camel march
| | |beyond the halting-place. The
| | |cleft is high up in the rocks,
| | |and all the water has to be
| | |carried down by hand.
| | |
| | |There were a few Baza families
| | |there, who assisted in the
| | |watering of our animals and
| | |filling our fantasses, but the
| | |delay was very great.
| | |
| | |_Lakatakura_ lies about 3½ to 4
| | |miles N. of the Khor Lakisaba. It
| | |was deserted, and the _well_ was
| | |said to be dry.
| | |
| | |After retracing our steps for a
| | |mile we struck off in a S.
| | |direction, and followed a track
| | |made by an Italian hunting party
| | |a few days before. This track had
| | |evidently not been used for many
| | |years, as it was all overgrown
| | |with thorns, and was very
| | |indistinct in places. Fortunately
| | |the hunting party had been
| | |obliged to partially clear it for
| | |their camels, and after
| | |considerable difficulties we
| | |emerged from the hills after
| | |going about 12 miles, and reached
| | |the Khor Maichhi. Here there are
| | |many hashab, baobab, and sunt
| | |trees. Soon after the Khor
| | |Maietib is crossed, and places
| | |were seen where it is said water
| | |used formerly to remain even
_R. Setit_ | 21 | 68 |during the hot weather. After a
| | |few more miles through undulating
| | |wooded country the track leads
| | |suddenly on to the bank of the
| | |Setit opposite a large pool about
| | |1 mile below its junction with
| | |the Khor Maietib, which is said
| | |to be the old boundary between
| | |the Hamran and Baza tribes. There
| | |was some tobacco growing in this
| | |khor which was said to have been
| | |planted by the Abyssinian Baza.
| | |
| | |About here the Setit averages 100
| | |to 150 yards wide, with a good
| | |deal of running water in it,
| | |though frequently fordable at
| | |this season (March). Banks 20 to
| | |30 feet high with a good deal of
| | |tamarisk.
| | |
K. Debebi | 1 | 69 |Following river, down right bank
| | |K. Debebi and Abu Osher are
K. Abu Osher | 2½ | 71½ |crossed.
| | |
J. Mudassir | 4½ | 76 |J. Mudassir is left ¾ mile on
| | |right and after crossing K.
_K. Meshra El | 1½ | 77½ |Meshra El Gedad J. Elaklei is
Gedad_ | | |also left same distance on right
| | |place on right bank named Darfit
J. Elaklei | 1 | 78½ |is passed, and Khor Um Hagar
| | |reached, the jebel of same name
Darfit | 1 | 79½ |being 1 mile on right. Soon after
| | |crossing this khor, a track leads
_Um Hagar_ | 1 | 80½ |N. to Abu Gamal. Broken ground
| | |now begins.
| | |
_Helegim_ | 1 | 81½ |After crossing the island of
| | |Helegim and marching down bed of
Halt | 1½ | 83 |river, good shade is reached on
| | |left bank.
| | |
| | |From here, leaving the river
| | |which was running S.W., owing to
| | |impossibility of marching along
| | |it on account of ravines and
J. Um Hagar | 2 | 85 |thick bush, a N. direction was
| | |taken to foot of J. Um Hagar,
| | |then, turning W., marched over
| | |bad cotton soil chiefly along
Ridge | 6¼ | 91¼ |elephant tracks at foot of low
| | |ridge of hills left on right
| | |till, reaching a shorter detached
Hafeira | 7 | 98¼ |ridge, we turned S., passing
| | |Hafeira, an old burial ground of
| | |Hamrans, and descended to the
| | |river at Umbrega, where the Setit
_Umbrega_[41] | 2 | 100¼ |flows between white cliffs, Geif
| | |El Hamam, on left bank, and
| | |precipitous ground on right bank.
| | |The last 17 miles had been nearly
| | |all bad going, and game paths
| | |were the only tracks met. Game
| | |between Maietib and Umbrega
| | |plentiful. Lion, abu ma’arif
| | |(Roan Antelope), kudu, water-
| | |buck, tétel (tora hartebeeste),
| | |bushbuck, ariel, gazelle, oribi,
| | |dig-dig, wart-hog, hippo. Numbers
| | |of giraffe and elephant tracks
| | |were seen, but buffalo tracks
| | |only twice.
---------------+-------------+------+---------------------------------

126.—GALLABAT TO CHELGA.

BY CAPTAIN A. C. PARKER, JANUARY, 1904.

[Sidenote: General.]

From Gallabat to where the track crosses the Gandoa, ground is undulating and track continually crosses khors which drain into the Gandoa or the Atbara. Country bushed and rocky, but stretches of cotton soil in places; from the Gandoa on to Chelga track gets worse and gradients more severe and valleys running down from the Escarp more deeply cut.

[Sidenote: Water.]

Is in plenty all along the road, there is not an interval of 10 miles without good water.

[Sidenote: Supplies.]

Perhaps a little dura can be obtained at Wahni (up to an ardeb or two) otherwise non-existent.

[Sidenote: Inhabitants.]

Belata Dasta’s village is at Wahni, otherwise no inhabitants except roving bands of hunters, usually Tigréans.

[Sidenote: Transport.]

Mule, donkey and pony pack-transport only suitable, though camels said to have been used as far as Wahni.

[Sidenote: Passes.]

The Emperor’s pass is a necessity.

[Sidenote: Game.]

Plentiful on Atbara and Gandoa.

[Sidenote: Escort.]

An escort of 8 to 10 men is necessary in case of bandits.

N.B.—W = Wauz = Khor. T = Tarara = Jebel.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Gallabat | — | — |Leaving Gallabat, path crosses
| | |Khor Abnakheir; ground rises from
| | |khor rough and stony; about 300
| | |yards from it, a track leads in a
| | |more southerly direction to Kwara;
| | |track, running a little S. of E.,
Tarara Mariam | 2 | 2 |passes round S. end of Tarara
Waha | | |Mariam Waha (200 feet); skirting
| | |S. of this hill and its
| | |continuations, path is rough, cut
| | |up by small khors running S. from
| | |them; at mile 3, low hills begin
| | |on S. of track and continue for a
| | |mile, track rough, winding, and
| | |cut up by small khors running N.
| 2 | 4 |From here country becomes more
| | |open, cotton soil, and low trees
| | |until a small khor fringed with
| | |big trees is reached, and a few
_Khor Chincha_| 1 | 5 |hundred yards on, Khor Chincha, a
| | |rocky khor, water plentiful. Track
| | |meanders on through rocky ground,
| | |rough going, for a mile, when
| | |cotton soil and more or less open
| | |country is reached; another 1½
| | |miles, and a rocky khor is
| | |reached.
| | |
| | |(Khor Sababa.) A few hundred yards
| | |on is the halting-place Wahsha,
| | |steep cliff on N. of khor making
| | |waterfall when water sufficient,
| | |still rough going, cotton soil and
_Khor Sababa_ | 2½ | 7½ |rocky alternately; ¾ mile on,
| | |cross Khor Abd El Rizak Gowari (12
| | |yards wide), cotton soil thickly
| | |wooded at mile 10. A small khor is
| | |crossed and ¼ mile on Khor Goghan;
_Khor Koki_ | 3 | 10½ |at mile 10½, Khor Koki, or Shatta,
| | |is crossed; this is a very
| | |winding, deep khor, banks 10 feet,
| | |bed shingly, 15 yards wide, water
| | |very plentiful, good shade. Track
| | |crosses this khor twice more
| | |before leaving it, when country
| | |becomes fairly open, with small
| | |trees, and after 2 miles reaches
| | |and passes to S. of a small hill
Tarara | 2 | 12½ |(120 feet), Tarara Jingandibba (or
Jingandibba | | |J. Wad Manna). Path now
| | |continually crosses small khors
| | |running N.; at mile 16 Khor
| | |Ardeiba is passed, and 2 miles on
_Khor | 5½ | 18 |Khor Wandoferi is crossed (7 yards
Wandoferi_ | | |wide, banks 6 feet high, not much
| | |water, good shade); ¾ mile good
| | |going, and track begins to
| | |descend, and ½ mile on reaches
_Khor Aftit_ | 1¼ | 19¼ |Khor Aftit (12 yards wide, banks
| | |10 feet high, good water and
| | |shade). ½ mile on crosses small
| | |khor, country much cut up. 1½
_Khor Shahadi_| 2 | 21¼ |miles on Khor Shahadi (16 yards
| | |wide, deep pools, general
| | |direction N.) is crossed; ¾ mile
| | |on path skirts edge of cliff 50
| | |feet high, at bottom of which is
| | |Khor Shahadi; at mile 23¾ track
| | |descends rapidly, and ¼ mile on
| | |crosses small khor; ½ mile further
| | |on small khor of flowing water,
_Khor Gandoa_ | 4 | 25¼ |and at mile 25¼ Khor Gandoa (50
| | |yards wide in deep pools). From
| | |this point road to Dagussa leads
| | |off up left bank of Gandoa.
| | |Crossing Gandoa, track runs almost
| | |parallel with it, low hills 1,000
| | |yards off to N. and also on other
| | |side of Gandoa; at mile 27 track
| | |crosses Ofing Gandoa W. (small,
| 2¼ | 27½ |with water), and at mile 27½
| | |passes close S. of a hill (200
| | |feet). Bamboos now first observed
| | |in abundance; ¼ mile on path
| | |crosses Jirar W. (15 yards wide,
| ½ | 28 |pools of water). At mile 28 path
| | |passes close N. of a low hill
| | |running down towards the Gandoa,
| 2½ | 30½ |and at mile 30½ close S. of
| | |another hill, low hills still to
_Agam W._ | 2¼ | 32¾ |N.; 2¼ miles on reach Agam W.,
| | |flowing water (named from the
| | |lilac-like flowering bush growing
| | |there). At mile 33¼ cross small
| | |khor, and another khor 2 miles
| | |from Agam W., low hills now only
| | |250 yards off to N.; ½ mile on
| | |pass close to S. of another hill.
| 3¼ | 36 |At mile 36 track crosses a small
| | |stony khor with a thick fringe of
| | |bamboos, and ¾ mile on close round
| | |the S. of a bluff; ¾ mile small
_Abai W._ | 2 | 38 |khor, and at mile 38 reaches Abai
| | |W., a running stream coming from
| | |among some hills about 600 feet
| | |high and 1,500 yards off N. of
| | |road. Track now leads up the
| | |valley of a small khor with low
| | |hills on both sides quite close,
| | |dense jungle of bamboo, high
| | |grass, etc., but after 1¼ miles
| | |begins to ascend a spur rapidly,
| | |and in course of the next half
| | |mile rises about 200 feet, then
| | |across a flat with amphitheatre of
| | |precipitous flat-topped hills (600
| | |feet) to N., about 2,000 yards
_Tarara | 3 | 41 |off, to southern end of Tarara
Kamachela_ | | |Kamachela (700 to 800 feet). Track
| | |passes round S. of Kamachela, and
| | |close under it, running at right
| | |angles to its former direction;
| | |still under hill crosses khor of
| | |water, and a mile on reaches site
Wahni Suk | 3½ | 44½ |of Wahni Suk (no buildings). From
| | |the Suk there is very steep path
| | |leading up to the village of Wahni
| | |(uninhabited when seen); this is
| | |situated on the top of Kamachela,
| | |a plateau sloping away to the N.
| | |There is a little cultivation
| | |below (dura and cotton), but grain
| | |can only be bought in very limited
| | |quantities. From Wahni Suk track
| 1 | 45½ |resumes its old course; after 1
| | |mile a khor (10 yards wide) full
| | |of water is crossed, and ½ mile on
| | |track passes through two or three
| 1 | 46½ |low hills. ½ mile on a small khor
| | |of water is crossed. Here the
| | |“Candelabra cactus” makes its
| | |first appearance. Path now
| | |descends rapidly, and reaches khor
| 1 | 47½ |in bottom of valley about 250 feet
| | |below Wahni Suk. Since crossing
| 1 | 48½ |the Gandoa, khors have all been
| | |running more or less W., but from
| | |here, after ascending out of
| | |valley, another water system is
| | |encountered, the water running N.
| | |Path ascends and crosses spurs,
| | |running N. from a square
| | |precipitous hill, Tarara
| | |Angedibba.
| | |
| 1¼ | 49¾ |At mile 49¾ saddle N. of Tarara
| | |Angedibba is passed over, and path
| | |at once descends rapidly into the
| | |jungley valley of the Baloha W.,
| | |some small khors are crossed, and
| 2 | 51¾ |2 miles from saddle there is a
| | |small hill on left of path; ¾ mile
| | |on track crosses Baloha W., a
| | |babbling stream 12 yards wide, two
| | |or three times, and at mile 53¼
| | |begins to ascend rapidly, and in ¼
| | |mile reaches saddle under Tarara
| 1¾ | 53½ |Baloha. Striking along the hill
| | |for ¾ mile track crosses a spur,
| | |and descends into the valley of
_Sunkwa W._ | 2 | 55½ |Sunkwa W., flowing water, reaching
| | |latter after another 1¼ miles.
| | |Path now ascends rapidly out of
| | |khor, and after 1 mile passes
| | |close N. of a hill (some 250 feet
| | |high); two or three small khors
| | |are crossed running N., and 2¼
| | |miles from the Sunkwa path reaches
| | |a saddle, hills visible N. and S.;
| | |path now ascends and runs along
| | |the N. side of a range of hills
| | |for 4 miles, when track skirts to
| | |N. of a knobby hill on top of the
| | |range; there is a little water in
| | |a khor running down the hill
| | |northwards here, but not enough
| | |for baggage animals; track now
| | |changes to S. side of range and
| | |skirts along, winding in and out
| | |between gullies and spurs until a
| | |small pool of water is reached in
_Savinki W._ | 3¾ | 66½ |Savinki W.
| | |
_Gint W._ | 2 | 68½ |From here track runs a few hundred
| | |yards almost due south, then
| | |changes to south-east, ground more
| | |level as nearer base of hills; now
| | |reaches Gint W., close under
| | |Tarara Wahamba, a jagged basaltic
| | |remnant. Track now winds for about
| | |a mile, turning continually at
| | |right angles, as ground is very
| | |rough and cut up by khors. Path
| | |finally crosses to south of Gint
| | |W., a running stream, and ascends
| | |a spur of Wali Deva range,
| | |rounding spurs and crossing khors;
| 3¾ | 72¼ |at mile 72¼ track, which is close
| | |down to khor, rises sharply up a
| 3½ | 75¾ |spur for 300 yards, and skirts
| | |along higher up. At mile 75¾ path
| | |again rises rapidly up a spur, and
| | |after a pretty hard climb of some
| | |1,600 feet passes up a cleft and
Top of | — | — |reaches top of escarpment at head
Escarpment | | |of valley of Gint W. Country is
| | |now open and rolling, track
| 2½ | 81¼ |ascends gradually for 2½ miles,
| | |when it crosses the watershed.
| | |Here a view of Lake Tsana is
| | |obtained. Path now descends, easy
| | |gradients, into the Goang valley,
Chelga | 3½ | 84¾ |and reaches Chelga at mile 84¾.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

127.—LAKE TSANA (GOJA) TO GANDOA.

BY CAPTAIN A. C. PARKER, ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT, MARCH, 1904.

[Sidenote: General.]

Goja to Gallabat fair path, better than Chelga to Gallabat Road, but after descent of Escarp there are several bad places.

[Sidenote: Water.]

Is plentiful, nowhere more than 10 miles interval without it.

[Sidenote: Supplies.]

Obtainable nil.

[Sidenote: Inhabitants.]

Abyssinian villages from Lake Tsana up to watershed. A monastry at Mabra Solasi near Bamba. Stray hunting parties in the country adjoining the frontier.

[Sidenote: Transport.]

Mule, donkey, and pony pack-transport only suitable.

[Sidenote: Passes, game, escort.]

_See_ route Gallabat—Chelga.

N.B.—W = Wauz = Khor = dry watercourse. T = Tarara = Jebel = mountain.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
| 1 | 1 |Path leaves Goja in a northerly
| | |direction through high grass, and
| | |crosses a small khor almost at
| | |once. After 1 mile passes round
| | |west side of a low hill; 1½ miles
| | |on cross Anfordibba W. Full of
| | |running water; ground rises
| | |slowly; open country; path crosses
_Ariko_ | 1¾ | 2¾ |Ariko W., full of water, and,
| | |still ascending, leaves small hill
| | |on left, and at mile 4 passes a
| | |big tree marking spot where market
| | |used to be held.
| | |
Amusgebaia | 1¼ | 4 |“Amusgebaia”—legend says tree was
| | |used for hanging people. Cross
| | |four small khors, and, still
| | |gradually ascending, reach
Goanderat | ¾ | 4¾ |Goanderat village. Track crosses
| | |two small khors and gradually runs
| 2¾ | 7½ |up side of a small valley on to
| | |watershed; now descends slowly,
| | |and reaches camping ground at
_Barbaria | 1 | 8½ |Barbaria Kora (small amount of
Kora_ | | |water). Ground slopes away for
| | |another 1½ miles, when track
| 2¼ | 10¾ |descends rapidly down north side
| | |of a gully and, striking down a
| | |spur, reaches a saddle; now skirts
| | |north side of spur, path
| 1¾ | 12½ |descending rapidly. At mile 12½
| | |track passes along edge of a sheer
| | |precipice; shortly after path runs
| | |sharply down a spur in a more
| | |northerly direction; at mile 14 it
| | |leaves spur and leads down steep
| | |rocky descent across small khor
Diloa W. | 1¾ | 14¼ |and reaches camping place, “Diloa
| | |W.”; said to be water in khor, but
| | |I did not see it. Track now very
| | |much shut in, thick bush and rough
| | |stony descents, an especially bad
| | |one at mile 16¾. At mile 17 track
| | |follows bed of small khor,
| | |crossing it continually, track
| | |bad, thick bush, shut in both
| | |sides by hills; at mile 19 this
| | |khor joins Ganbilo W.; juncture is
_Girad Mwat_ | 4¾ | 19 |called Girad Mwat, there is
| | |abundant water. Follows Ganbilo
| | |W., a khor 20 yards wide with
| | |pools, crossing it six times in
| 4 | 23 |the next 2¾ miles; track now
| | |passes between two hills, that on
| | |N. being very steep and probably
| | |end of a ridge which runs down
| | |from Tankal. Path now descends
| | |slowly, bamboo jungle, and 1½
| | |miles on reaches junction of two
_Goandera W._ | 1½ | 24½ |khors, Goandera W., water
| | |plentiful. 1¾ miles on path
| | |crosses khor (Tukur Waha W.); path
| | |now along right bank of Jira W.,
| | |25 yards wide with large pools,
_Ambo_ | 2¼ | 26¾ |then cross Ambo W. This comes from
| | |a spring about ½ mile further back
| | |in hill, where it bubbles up quite
| | |warm; a couple of hundred yards
| | |off on the other side of the Jira
_Mwat Abba | 1¼ | 28 |lie the hot baths Mwat Abba
Mariam_ | | |Mariam. 2½ miles on pass to N. of
| | |low hill; hills on N. of path
| 2½ | 30½ |about 400 yards off, Jira W. still
| | |lying parallel with road but some
| 1¼ | 31¾ |way off to S.; at mile 31¾ track
| | |runs close to the Jira, here deep
| | |water but narrow for 500 yards,
| | |when a deep khor coming from N. is
| | |crossed; track now leaves Jira and
| | |leads up a defile down which a
| | |khor, a tributary of Jira runs;
| 1¼ | 33 |cross this khor for first time at
| | |mile 33, steep precipitous hills
| | |on both sides, path ascending
| | |dense bamboo thickets, reach water
| 4¼ | 37¼ |at mile 37¼. Ascent from Jira has
| | |been 300 or 400 feet; path now
| | |descends rapidly 350 feet, and
| | |leads down north side of a flat
| | |valley, path good, and reaches
_Wanenta_ | 4½ | 41¾ |Wanenta, water sufficient for
| | |party of 30 or so; now along north
| | |side of valley close under low
| | |hills; on south side of valley is
| | |a very prominent cone-shaped hill.
_Shimel Waha | 3¼ | 45 |Cross Shimel Waha W., water
W._ | | |abundant, and 1 mile on cross
| | |small khor, halting-place under a
Bamba | 1 | 46 |gemmeiza tree, called Bamba, track
| | |level and good; cross Jineta
_Jineta | 2¼ | 48¼ |Mariam W., running water, and 1¼
Mariam_ | | |miles on another running stream,
| | |called Mariam Waha W.; ¼ mile
| 1½ | 49¾ |further track passes close north
| | |of a hill; ground now broken up by
| | |spurs running northwards; path now
_Nefoing | 1¾ | 51½ |descends and crosses Nefoing
Gandoa_ | | |Gandoa W. just at the junction
| | |with the Gandoa; another 1½ miles
Jigebit | 1½ | 53 |on and Jigebit camping ground on
| | |the Gandoa is reached. 2¼ miles on
| 2¼ | 55¼ |cross khor of running water, and
| | |at mile 57 cross Barkurkur W., a
_Barkurkur_ | 1¾ | 57 |small khor of flowing water; 2
| | |miles on track passes south of
| | |Tarara Bisaurkudat, and ½ mile on
_Malkam Waha | 2½ | 59½ |reaches Malkam Waha W., a small
W._ | | |khor of flowing water. At mile 60¾
| | |crosses a khor of running water
| | |and another one 500 or 600 yards
| 1¾ | 62½ |on; at mile 62½ pass close to a
| | |bend of the Gandoa, and 1 mile on
Wahsha W. | 1 | 63½ |across the Wahsha W.; after
| | |another mile cross a big khor, and
| | |700 yards on a small khor with
| | |water; another deep khor without
| | |water is crossed, and then the
Gandoa | 2½ | 66 |Gandoa is reached. Path skirts it
| | |for some hundreds of yards till it
| | |reaches point where Wahni road
| | |crosses.
| | |
| | |Measurements by pacing, pace
| | |reckoned 32½ inches.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

128.—ADDIS ABBABA, _viâ_ GOJJAM AND LAKE TSANA, TO GALLABAT.[42]

BY MR. J. BAIRD, MAY, 1901.

------------+---------------+-------------+-----------------------------
| Miles. | |
Place. +--------+------+Hours’ march.| Description.
| Inter- |Total.| |
|mediate.| | |
------------+--------+------+-------------+-----------------------------
| | | H. M. |
| | | |
Addis Abbaba| — | — | — |The road from Addis Abbaba is
| | | |rough and hilly. Three
| | | |nullahs are crossed, two of
| | | |them with steep sides. No
| | | |fuel. Barley can be bought.
| | | |Excellent grazing. Two good
| | | |streams 50 yards from camp
| | | |(S.).
| | | |
_Sallulta_ | 4 | 4 | 1 50 |Excellent going over
| | | |undulating grass country. Six
| | | |streams crossed, all easy and
| | | |containing a fair supply of
| | | |water. Many villages and much
| | | |ploughed land _en route_.
| | | |Cattle and horses numerous;
| | | |fuel plentiful. Last hour’s
| | | |march through acacia scrub.
| | | |Good stream. Supplies as
| | | |before.
| | | |
Muggur-Affaf| 21½ | 25½ | 8 35 |The descent into the Muggur,
| | | |commencement of which is
| | | |reached 2 hours after leaving
| | | |camp, is precipitous and
| | | |unrideable. Loaded mules get
| | | |down with difficulty. Muggur
| | | |reached 4 hours from start.
| | | |Ascent to other (N.) side of
| | | |valley is easier, but also
| | | |mostly unrideable. Camp at
| | | |edge of S. plateau. No water
| | | |between camps, except Muggur.
_Yaïya_ | 16½ | 42 | 7 5 |Two villages passed in
| | | |valley, one on either side of
| | | |river. Some cotton and barley
| | | |grown. Monkeys and florican
| | | |on hills. Each side of River
| | | |Muggur 2,800 feet below
| | | |either plateau. Grazing bad;
| | | |barley and sheep in small
| | | |quantities. A fair stream 100
| | | |yards N. of camp. Wood
| | | |plentiful in Muggur valley,
| | | |but scarce immediately round
| | | |camp.
| | | |
| | | |Easy marching over undulating
| | | |grass country; for the last
| | | |1½ hours through occasional
| | | |chavaha trees. Fuel scarce.
| | | |The hills, which are a mile
_Kessi_ | 17½ | 59½ | 6 45 |E. and N.E. of camp, are
| | | |wooded, but plains are
| | | |treeless. Excellent grazing;
| | | |fair supplies of barley and
| | | |sheep. A small stream 100
| | | |yards N. of camp.
| | | |
| | | |Excellent going over gently
| | | |undulating grass plateau. Few
| | | |streams crossed, and water
| | | |usually scarce and bad. No
_Jarso_ | 21½ | 81 | 8 35 |trees. A few villages. Few
| | | |cattle. A large market at
| | | |Jarso on Saturdays; barley,
| | | |sheep, and fuel to be bought.
| | | |Fair stream 50 yards W. of
| | | |camp.
| | | |
_Blue Nile_ | 14 | 95 | 7 0 |This camp is a very bad one.
(right bank)| | | |Tents have to be pitched on
| | | |the track, which runs along
| | | |the steep N. bank of the
| | | |Nile. Any amount of fuel. The
| | | |descent is unrideable, and
| | | |mules have to be unloaded
| | | |once to get through narrow
| | | |pass. River 4,680 feet below
| | | |S. plateau. Few mosquitoes.
| | | |Many crocodiles and good fish
| | | |can be caught in Nile. No
| | | |water between Jarso and
| | | |river. No grazing and no
| | | |supplies. Wood abundant.
| | | |
| | | |The first part of ascent is
| | | |most trying for mules. At one
| | | |part they have to be unloaded
| | | |and load carried up steps for
| | | |40 feet (1 hour 13 minutes
| | | |after start); the remainder
| | | |of the road runs over
_Dejen_ | 13½ | 108½ | 7 0 |successive plateaux,
| | | |connected by steep ascents.
| | | |Village of Mere (friendly
| | | |chief, Balambaras Nagau) near
| | | |top of ascent, and
| | | |considerable amount of
| | | |cultivation around it.
| | | |Excellent grazing; plentiful
| | | |supplies from neighbouring
| | | |village. Water bad and little
| | | |from stream 100 yards E. of
| | | |camp. Wood scarce.
| | | |
_Abukerk_ | 14½ | 123 | 6 0 |A good camping-place in
| | | |sheltered cup. Wood plentiful
| | | |on surrounding hills. A fair
| | | |number of villages in
| | | |neighbourhood, and some
| | | |cultivation. Excellent going,
| | | |mostly over undulating grass;
| | | |treeless plain from Dejen. A
| | | |few streams _en route_.
| | | |Latter part along wooded
| | | |western slope of ridge.
| | | |Excellent grazing; supplies
| | | |plentiful. Water, good supply
| | | |from stream 50 yards W. of
| | | |camp. Wood abundant.
| | | |
_Askatta_ | 7½ | 130½ | 3 15 |Camp on treeless slope of
| | | |undulating plain, over which
| | | |road led from Abukerk.
| | | |Several streams crossed, all
| | | |easy, and going excellent all
| | | |the way. Little cultivation;
| | | |good grazing. Supplies
| | | |plentiful at neighbouring
| | | |village. Water, fair supply
| | | |from stream 100 yards below
| | | |camp. Wood scarce.
| | | |
_Debra | 10½ | 141 | 4 30 |The track is hilly, and in
Markos_ | | | |some places the descents are
| | | |steep and slippery after
| | | |rain. Much of the road lies
| | | |through thick acacia scrub,
| | | |almost impassable except by
| | | |the main mule track. Water
| | | |plentiful. Track narrow in
| | | |places. Large market.
| | | |
_Delma_ | 18½ | 159½ | 7 0 |Small camping ground on a
| | | |slope running from N.N.W. to
| | | |a fair stream running W.
| | | |Excellent going, alternately
| | | |through cultivation, bush and
| | | |plain. Many rivers _en
| | | |route_, all easily crossed.
| | | |Grazing bad. Villages in
| | | |neighbourhood numerous.
| | | |Barley plentiful and cheap.
| | | |Wood and water abundant.
| | | |
| | | |A steep descent 5 minutes
| | | |after starting, and fairly
| | | |steep descent and ascent into
| | | |and out of Tumcha river; the
| | | |track, except for the last
| | | |hour, leads through scrub and
_Dembecha_ | 9½ | 169 | 2 40 |thick wood; the crossing of
| | | |the Gadlar is easy, low
| | | |banks. Excellent camping
| | | |ground on the E. side of
| | | |Dembecha, ½ mile from Gadlar;
| | | |first rate grazing. Barley,
| | | |rif. Market on Mondays. Water
| | | |abundant; wood on surrounding
| | | |hills, and can be bought.
| | | |
| | | |Passing through Dembecha the
| | | |road ascends gradually for
| | | |the first ½ hour some 200
| | | |feet over open grass country;
| | | |it then drops into a thick
| | | |forest, where the track is so
| | | |narrow and deep that two
| | | |mules could not pass in some
| | | |places; thick undergrowth.
| | | |After three-quarters of an
| | | |hour’s march, the Cherika
| | | |stream is crossed 350 feet
| | | |below the Dembecha; from here
| | | |onwards the trees and the
| | | |undergrowth are far less
| | | |thick, and the track no
| | | |longer runs in a deep rut.
| | | |During the next three-
| | | |quarters of an hour the road
| | | |drops gradually 250 feet, and
| | | |then falls 500 feet in 20
| | | |minutes down to the Kacham
| | | |river. The descent is easy.
| | | |The river in May is some 15
| | | |yards wide, from 1 to 2 feet
| | | |deep, with a swift current;
| | | |flat, wooded banks. Large,
| | | |flat, slippery stones make
| | | |the crossing rather
| | | |troublesome. The valley of
| | | |this river is about ¾ mile
| | | |wide. The road now rises 290
| | | |feet, crossing a spur which
| | | |juts out from the hills
| | | |bounding Kacham’s valley on
| | | |the W. and dropping again to
| | | |10 feet below the Kacham’s
| | | |level, crosses the Birr river
| | | |50 minutes later. The bed of
| | | |the Birr at the crossing is
| | | |some 80 yards wide, the left
| | | |bank 15 to 20 feet high and
| | | |the right bank lower; the
| | | |water (7th May) runs with a
| | | |swift current, about 1 foot
| | | |deep, over a rocky bed in two
| | | |channels, separated by a mass
| | | |of black rock. 200 yards
| | | |below the crossing there is a
| | | |fall of some 30 feet, below
| | | |which the river runs in a
| | | |narrow gorge enclosed by
| | | |black rocks; 300 yards below
| | | |this it is crossed by a rough
| | | |log bridge. The road from
| | | |here runs over an undulating
| | | |grass-covered plain, bare at
| | | |first, but during the last 2
| | | |hours’ march, wooded. The
| | | |Rivers Sarinwaha, Tamim, Lach
| | | |and Bakkalla are crossed, as
| | | |well as two unnamed streams;
| | | |in May they none of them
| | | |present any difficulty. The
| | | |camp is a small and bad one
| | | |on the sloping N. bank of the
_River | 19 | 188 | 6 45 |Bakkalla river. Wood and
Bakkalla_ | | | |water plentiful, also barley.
| | | |
| | | |As far as Monkussa the track
| | | |winds N.W. and W. over
| | | |undulating grass country
| | | |dotted with acacia trees.
| | | |Parallel to the road, on the
| | | |S. side of it, and apparently
| | | |about 5 miles off, runs a
| | | |chain of hills. The river
| | | |Birr flows past the southern
| | | |end, and the Lach the
| | | |northern of this range; they
| | | |join on the far side and flow
| | | |into the Blue Nile. One small
| | | |stream is crossed before
| | | |reaching Monkussa, and one
| | | |immediately after leaving
_Burre_ | 9½ | 197½ | 4 0 |that village, the Dawuna by
| | | |name, 20 yards wide; water
| | | |knee-deep in May, with a
| | | |strong current. The crossing
| | | |is troublesome on account of
| | | |very slippery, flat stones.
| | | |After leaving Monkussa, the
| | | |track winds through more
| | | |thickly-wooded country, and
| | | |eventually runs over a
| | | |treeless plain, out of which
| | | |rises the knoll where Burre
| | | |is built. There is ample
| | | |space for a good camp No wood
| | | |at the town, but easily
| | | |procured close by. Water
| | | |supply not seen, but must be
| | | |fairly copious. Large
| | | |supplies.
| | | |
| | | |This is the capital of Damot,
| | | |the seat of Ras Warke, the
| | | |governor, and the centre of a
| | | |populous, fertile, and
| | | |cultivated district.
| | | |
| | | |The villages of Waan and
| | | |Zoava are passed between
| | | |Monkussa and Burre.
| | | |
| | | |An easy march through a
| | | |populous, well cultivated,
| | | |undulating country. Good
_Chara_ | 6½ | 204 | 2 30 |camping ground on the edge of
| | | |a stream; villages all
| | | |around. Supplies, wood and
| | | |water plentiful.
| | | |
| | | |Eight miles through
| | | |undulating cultivation; cross
| | | |Fattom river, tributary of
| | | |Blue Nile, 40 yards wide and
| | | |3 feet deep at crossing;
| | | |stream sluggish. Then 2½
_Anjavera_ | 18 | 222 | 7 20 |miles through dense forest,
| | | |after which track twists
| | | |through wooded hills into a
| | | |fairly populous and
| | | |cultivated plain. Rise of 600
| | | |feet during march.
| | | |Inhabitants not very
| | | |friendly. Supplies as before,
| | | |and some cattle.
| | | |
| | | |Rise rapidly 300 feet. Cross
| | | |thickly-wooded ridge forming
| | | |water-parting between Tsana
| | | |and Blue Nile systems, then
| | | |drop by narrow winding track
| | | |through dense forest into
| | | |rich, undulating, well-
| | | |watered country, with patches
| | | |of cultivation. Track in
| | | |places very narrow, and worn
| | | |deep into the clay. Four
| | | |hundred yards N.W. of point
_Dangalla_ | 20½ | 242½ | 8 0 |where track emerges from
| | | |wooded ridge, rises a sugar-
| | | |loaf hill, called Zurachi,
| | | |about 1,000 feet, forming a
| | | |conspicuous landmark. E. of
| | | |track are several isolated
| | | |hills, among which is Saatma,
| | | |visible for some distance on
| | | |either side of Anjavera. Last
| | | |8 miles through populous and
| | | |fertile district of Achaffer.
| | | |Camp in centre of four
| | | |scattered villages. After
| | | |crossing ridge excellent
| | | |going. Wood and water scarce.
| | | |
_Ismaila_ | 7 | 249½ | 2 30 |Good camp. Fair water and
| | | |supplies.
| | | |
| | | |Cross River Barati, tributary
| | | |of Blue Nile; easy crossing;
| | | |thence up gentle slope past
| | | |Libtan, a large village with
| | | |considerable amount of
_Nefassa_ | 16 | 265½ | 6 30 |cultivation; skirt foot of
| | | |hills bounding valley of Blue
| | | |Nile on W. to Nefassa. Poor,
| | | |thinly populated district.
| | | |Supplies scarce; no sheep or
| | | |cattle. Water and wood
| | | |scarce.
| | | |
_Liven_ | 6 | 271½ | 2 25 |A good camping ground. Open
| | | |country. Good road from
| | | |Ismaila. Barley can be
| | | |bought, but no sheep; a few
| | | |cattle in the neighbourhood.
| | | |Wood plentiful; small water
| | | |supply.
| | | |
_Forehe_ | 9½ | 281 | 3 45 |Good camp. A good road from
| | | |Liven. Natives unfriendly.
| | | |Supplies and water scarce.
| | | |
_Konsuli_ | 5½ | 286½ | 2 0 |A small camping ground 100
(Lake Tsana)| | | |yards from the lake; a good
| | | |road from Forehe. Natives
| | | |unfriendly. Wood, water and
| | | |barley plentiful.
| | | |
_Goja_ (Lake| 19 | 305½ | 7 30 |A rough road through the
Tsana) | | | |hills which border the lake;
| | | |no water _en route_; a bad
| | | |damp camping ground on the
| | | |foreshore of the lake.
| | | |Another road follows the
| | | |water’s edge from Konsuli.
| | | |This is longer, but said to
| | | |be better.
| | | |
_Dumgi_ | 11 | 316½ | 3 0 |A good road, and a good
| | | |camping ground. Poor grazing.
| | | |Water from lake.
| | | |
_Berbera | 5 | 321½ | 1 50 |A good camping ground in a
Kora_ | | | |hollow; excellent grazing.
| | | |Water supply fair. Plenty of
| | | |wood. No supplies.
| | | |
_Ghimfyva | 9½ | 331 | 5 0 |A very rough march, and a
River_ | | | |very bad camp in a narrow,
| | | |rocky, thickly-wooded valley.
| | | |Cross water-parting between
| | | |Tsana and Atbara systems, 600
| | | |feet above Lake. Track
| | | |narrow, twisting, and in
| | | |places very steep, only
| | | |practicable for mule or
| | | |donkey transport; descent of
| | | |3,500 feet in last 5 hours.
| | | |Practically no grazing. Wood,
| | | |but little water in rocks.
| | | |
_River Jera_| 12½ | 343½ | 4 50 |Another very rough march. A
| | | |fair little camping ground
| | | |with good shade; a little
| | | |grazing. Plenty of wood and
| | | |water.
| | | |
_Camp near | 10½ | 354 | 4 10 |A good camping ground. The
water holes_| | | |first part of the road is
| | | |rough, but after crossing a
| | | |ridge nearly 1,000 feet above
| | | |the Jera river it becomes
| | | |considerably easier; thick
| | | |clumps of bamboo are
| | | |difficult for loaded mules to
| | | |get through in places. Hardly
| | | |any grazing. Fair amount of
| | | |water. Plenty of wood.
| | | |
_Ghindoa | 21½ | 375½ | 8 50 |A good camp; fair going,
(Gandoa) | | | |except for the thick clumps
River_ | | | |of bamboo, which are a little
| | | |difficult for loaded mules to
| | | |get through in places. A halt
| | | |can be made at some water
| | | |passed 6 hours 5 minutes
| | | |after starting. Hardly any
| | | |grazing. No supplies. Wood
| | | |and water plentiful.
| | | |
_Chincha | 22 | 397½ | 8 20 |Good going and a good camping
River_ | | | |ground. Very little grazing.
| | | |Wood and water as before.
| | | |
Matemma | 5½ | 403 | 2 0 |An easy march over a good
(Gallabat) | | | |road.
------------+--------+------+-------------+-----------------------------