Chapter XXXIV: Appendix: (routes Partly Outside the Sudan.) (3)

This road from the lake is the one followed by the Emperor John when he went down to Matemma with some 20,000 (?) men in 1889 and was killed by the Dervishes. The rains had barely commenced during the present journey, therefore there was hardly any grass, and water was scarce during the first 3 days’ march from the lake. Both water and grass must be abundant after the rains, and while these are falling the mountain torrents are said to make the road impassable; it could be greatly improved by clearing the bamboos and other trees which in places almost conceal the track.

129.—ADDIS ABBABA TO FAMAKA (S. OF BLUE NILE).

BY LIEUTENANT GWYNN, D.S.O., 1900.

NOTE—

G. = Gara, mountain range. J. = Jebel.

T. = Tulu, mountain peak. K. = Khor.

L. = Laga, stream.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Addis Abbaba | — | — |
| | |
British | — | — |The British Residency is situated
Residency | | |at the foot of a spur running S.
| | |from the Entotto range, and
| | |bounding the Addis Abbaba valley
| | |on the E. It lies just clear of
| | |the most easterly native huts.
| | |About 600 yards immediately N. of
| | |it is the Russian Agency, and
| | |about the same distance to the
| | |W.N.W. of the latter, on the
| | |opposite side of the stream, is
| | |the Russian doctor’s enclosure
| | |formerly occupied by the Rodd
| | |Mission. For position of other
| | |European missions, &c., _see_
| | |Count Gleichen’s map of Addis
| | |Abbaba (I.D.W.O., 1897).
| | |
| | |The water supply of the British
| | |Residency is drawn from a spring
| | |on the slopes at the back of the
| | |compound, and a surface channel
| | |from the spring supplies a small
| | |tank in the compound for watering
| | |horses, &c.
| | |
| | |The compound is surrounded with a
| | |solid mud wall, surmounted by a
| | |continuous hurdle work fence.
| | |
Gibe (King’s | 1½ | 1½ |Lies pretty well in the centre of
Enclosure) | | |the town, on a long flat spur
| | |running down from Entotto. The
| | |enclosure is formed by a high
| | |wooden palisade, and at the
| | |present time an outer wall,
| | |solidly built in stone, is being
| | |constructed. Inside the palisade
| | |the enclosure is divided by
| | |numerous stone walls and wooden
| | |fences; the buildings are strongly
| | |built, but there are many thatched
| | |buildings and a lot of woodwork.
| | |
| | |Water supply is laid on in iron
| | |mains from Entotto, and there is
| | |an artificial surface channel just
| | |outside the enclosure.
| | |
| | |The town of Addis Abbaba extends
| | |about 3 miles from E. to W., but
| | |the houses are scattered haphazard
| | |and there are no streets; the
| | |tracks running between the houses
| | |are very rough, and the crossings
| | |of the streams are bad, in
| | |particular in the rains. A few
| | |rough narrow bridges exist, but
| | |are not used in the dry season.
| | |
| | |After clearing the town there is a
| | |wide flat spur before the Akaki
| | |(Western) is reached, which would
| | |form a fine camping ground.
| | |
_Akaki_ (1st | 4½ | 6 |Small stream in deep gully.
branch) | | |
| | |
_Akaki_ (2nd | 1 | 7 |Stream, 15 feet wide, 1 foot deep,
branch) | | |rapid, in a deep gully; very steep
| | |on W. side. The col connecting the
| | |Entotto with the Managasha Hills
| | |is a fine manœuvring ground for
| | |troops of all arms, and is, on the
| | |whole, flat and open, though it is
| | |intersected by a few narrow
| | |valleys draining to the Akaki.
| | |Almost all these contain water.
| | |The whole mass of mountains S. of
| | |the road is generally called
| | |Managasha, but this name strictly
| | |applies to the steep round-topped
| | |hill just S. of the road at the
| | |watershed. The main mountain is
| | |called Wochochu by the indigenous
| | |Gallas.
| | |
T. Managasha | 6 | 13 |
| | |
| | |Fitaurari Hapto Gorgis’s house
| | |lies a little N. of the road just
| | |where the descent into the Walata
| | |valley commences, and his
| | |territory stretches S.W. from this
| | |point.
| | |
| | |T. Managasha is well wooded, as
| | |are the steep slopes forming the
| | |escarp connecting G. Managasha and
| | |G. Foweita.
| | |
| | |The road descends this escarp by a
| | |fairly well graded, though steep,
| | |line, crossing several small
| | |streams.
| | |
Kaffa road | 1 | 14 |About 1 mile after commencing the
| | |descent, the road to Kaffa and
| | |Limmu branches off S.W. towards
| | |the sharp cone to Wata Dalecho; to
| | |the left of the road, near the
| | |bottom of the escarp, is the
| | |Abunas house, situated among thick
| | |trees.
| | |
_L. Walata_ | 8 | 22 |At the foot of the escarp the
| | |woody road stops and then enters a
| | |flat grass valley, in the middle
| | |of which is the Walata, a stream
| | |about 20 feet wide and 1 foot
| | |deep.
| | |
_L. Dalota_ | 5 | 27 |Between Walata and Dalota flat
| | |grassland, with a few Galla farms.
| | |L. Dalota, rapid, 20 feet wide, 1
| | |foot deep.
| | |
_Addis Alem_ | 1½ | 28½ |The road rises steeply from the
(British | | |stream to the wooded spur on which
Location) | | |Addis Alem is being built. To the
| | |N. of the road the escarp
| | |commences which marks the
| | |watershed between the Nile and
| | |Hawash, and extends without break
Addis Alem | ½ | 29 |from this point to the River Gude.
Gibe | | |The escarp and spurs running from
| | |it are well wooded and well
| | |watered, the main spurs being
| | |broken up into minor features. The
| | |British and Italian locations are
| | |side by side to the S. of the
| | |stream which runs through the
| | |town; the ground to the S. of them
| | |is flat for 800 yards or so, and
| | |at present fairly thickly wooded.
| | |On the N. it drops very steeply to
| | |the stream about 40 feet.
| | |
| | |No building has yet been commenced
| | |on the British location, but Major
| | |Ciccodicola has built several
| | |large houses of the ordinary Tukl
| | |pattern, and has laid out and
| | |commenced another house of more
| | |European design, the lower story
| | |of which is stone.
| | |
| | |The Gibe is built on a knoll
| | |between two streams, the drop
| | |towards the southern one being
| | |very steep. The main buildings
| | |will be on the N. shoulder of the
| | |knoll. On the northern slope of
| | |the knoll is a sort of park
| | |enclosed by a ditch and palisade.
| | |This is evidently intended for a
| | |defensible camp, as the enclosure
| | |on the top of the knoll is too
| | |small for any considerable force.
| | |
| | |Water supply is not very good for
| | |the town, but a main for the
| | |supply of the Gibe is being laid
| | |from the spur to the N.E.
| | |
_L. Barga_ | 5 | 34 |Road W. of Addis Alem, though not
| | |so well worn as between Addis Alem
| | |and Addis Abbaba, is, on the
| | |whole, well defined and good,
| | |being much used by the traders
| | |from Leka, Lekempti Walega, and
| | |Kelina (Chelim), and the soldiers
| | |of Dejaj Damasi, Dejaj Gumsa
| | |(Gabri Xiavrihir), and Dejaj Goti
| | |(Joti).
| | |
| | |At first it runs along a well-
| | |wooded spur, then crosses the
| | |Barga, which runs in a deep,
| | |steep-sided valley, 20 feet by 1
| | |foot; rapid.
| | |
_L. Jemjem_ | 6 | 40 |Between the Barga and Jemjem are
| | |several small streams with fair
| | |water. The Jemjem is 12 feet wide
| | |and 6 inches deep; rapid. Road
| | |runs at the foot of the spurs in
| | |open country; the escarp to the N.
| | |is steeper and the spurs are
| | |shorter; to the S. is the flat
| | |open grass land of the Hawash
| | |Valley, which would probably be
| | |very swampy during the rains; the
| | |road practically is the boundary
| | |between Ras Mangasha Atakem’s
| | |territory on the N., and Fitaurari
| | |Hapto Giorgis on the S. It
| | |actually lies, however, in Ras
| | |Mangasha’s country.
| | |
_Hawash River_| 6½ | 48½ |Between Jemjem and Hawash the
| | |country is quite open. Three small
| | |muddy streams are crossed. Hawash,
| | |20 feet by 6 inches; rapid,
| | |beautiful water.
| | |
_L. Bagaga_ | 8½ | 57 |A very small stream, draining to
| | |the Gude. No water between it and
| | |the Hawash on the road crossing
| | |the watershed. To the S. are the
| | |Chavo Mountains, and to the N. the
| | |escarp rises to a high shoulder at
| | |G. Ilfata. From this point the
| | |road traverses a succession of
| | |open spurs running N. to the L.
| | |Dabis, a tributary of the Gude. On
| | |the N. of the Dabis the escarp
| | |rises in huge terraced cliffs.
| | |
_L. Meiti or | 3½ | 60½ |Small stream, with good water;
Sellen_ | | |before reaching it a dry
| | |watercourse and two small streams
| | |are crossed.
| | |
| | |W. of the Laga Meiti the country
| | |is everywhere more or less wooded,
| | |though the trees are small, except
| | |by the streams or on the mountain
| | |slopes. This is due to constant
| | |grass fires.
| | |
_L. Hulogka_ | 7 | 67½ |L. Hulogka, 30 feet by 1 foot;
| | |rapid; is a fine stream. About 3
| | |miles N. of the road is a church
| | |and a hot spring. Between the L.
| | |Meiti and L. Hulogka, the L. Awaru
| | |drains a marshy valley.
| | |
_Tulu Dintu_ | 4½ | 72 |Road passes over rather a hilly
| | |bit of country, crossing the
| | |Taltale and Birbissu streams at 2½
| | |and 3½ miles respectively; both
| | |small, with good water.
| | |
| | |Tulu Dintu was formerly residence
| | |of Dejaj Hailo Hariam, brother of
| | |Ras Makunnen. Now few huts are
| | |occupied.
| | |
_River Gude_ | 3½ | 75½ |Flat country between Tula Dintu
Bridge | | |and Gude, thickly wooded near the
| | |latter; two tributaries of the
| | |Gude have to be crossed, both
| | |small streams with good water.
| | |
| | |The Gude is a beautiful stream,
| | |running from one deep rock pool to
| | |another at the bottom of sheer-
| | |sided channel, 30 feet deep.
| | |
| | |A good wooden bridge, 6 feet wide,
| | |on stone abutments, has been
| | |built, evidently under M. Ilg’s
| | |direction.
| | |
| | |The ground near the stream is too
| | |thickly wooded and confined to be
| | |a good camping place.
| | |
| | |The Gude flows N. to the Abai,
| | |cutting through the escarp in a
| | |wonderful canon about a mile wide,
| | |with sheer sides some 2,000 feet
| | |high. Beautiful scenery.
| | |
_L. Kili_ | 10 | 85½ |From the Gude the road rises
| | |steeply and runs round the
| | |northern spurs of the mountain
| | |group which culminates in G.
| | |Ragge. The first ascent is very
| | |steep, but road is fully well
| | |graded, and the conical peak of T.
| | |Befti is left to the right.
| | |
| | |Small streams are crossed at 4,
| | |4½, 7½, and 9 miles. About 4 miles
| | |N. of the road is a deep valley,
| | |running from W. to E. to the Gude,
| | |and on the N. side of it the
| | |escarp rises precipitously. The
| | |spurs of G. Ragge are thickly
| | |wooded, and are divided by steep
| | |valleys.
| | |
| | |L. Kili, a good stream, 15 feet
| | |wide and 6 inches deep, in a
| | |narrow valley.
| | |
_L. Aresu_ | 4½ | 90 |Road rises very steeply from the
| | |Kili over the shoulder of T. Boke,
| | |and descends steeply into the
| | |Humbolsha Valley (stream dries up)
| | |at 2½ miles, then a slight rise
| | |and another steep descent to the
| | |Aresu, a small stream, but with
| | |good water and a good open camping
| | |ground on its W. bank.
| | |
Chelia | 10 | 100 |From the Aresu the road winds
District | | |round the south-western end of the
(Gedda | | |Rafisokili Valley, passing over
village) | | |_numerous_ spurs and _small
| | |streams_. L. Mata Arba, at the
| | |third mile, is western boundary of
| | |Ras Mangasha’s territory, and the
| | |eastern boundary of _Chelia_,
| | |which belongs to Queen Taitu.
| | |Country much broken, and fairly
| | |thickly wooded.
| | |
| | |The village of Gedda, formerly the
| | |residence of Dejaj Desta (Ras
| | |Darge’s son, now dead), is on the
| | |narrow water partly between the
| | |Gude (Blue Nile) and Gibbe (Omo)
| | |basins; there is a considerable
| | |population and a church here.
| | |
_L. Garsa_ | 12 | 112 |After crossing the watershed the
| | |road drops at first very steeply,
| | |and then more gradually, into the
| | |Gibbe Valley; the surface of the
| | |road is good, and level ground is
| | |reached at the end of the third
| | |mile. At 1½ miles a road branches
| | |off to S.W., probably that shown
| | |on the map illustrating movement
| | |of Bonchamps’ mission.
| | |
| | |The L. Ambo, which combines with
| | |other streams to form the Alengo,
| | |is crossed, and the road skirts
| | |along N. of, and parallel to, the
| | |Alengo.
| | |
| | |Several streams are crossed before
| | |reaching the Garan, and the
| | |country is rough.
| | |
| | |From Gedda the escarp trends off
| | |N.W., leaving a wide plain,
| | |bounded on the S. and W. by G.
| | |Kwunchu Sodu and Tuka.
| | |
| | |The Garsa is a sluggish, muddy
| | |stream, running between steep clay
| | |banks. Good camping ground W. of
| | |it.
| | |
_L. Alengo_ | 5 | 117 |Road, after passing a few low
| | |spurs, runs over a flat, clay
| | |valley. The Alengo, 30 feet wide
| | |by 6 inches deep.
| | |
_River Gibbe_ | 6 | 123 |Road continues over flat, open
| | |country, passing close to the low,
| | |rocky hillock, T. Bertuma. The
| | |Gibbe, 45 feet wide, 2 feet deep,
| | |fairly rapid; clay bank, thickly
| | |lined with willow, bottom gravel.
| | |It is a tributary of the Omo, and
| | |the eastern limit of the Queen’s
| | |district of Chelia. Between the
| | |Gibbe and the Wama the country is
| | |Dejaj Damasi’s.
| | |
_Bilo_ | 13 | 136 |After crossing the Gibbe the road
| | |skirts round the northern spurs of
| | |G. Kwunchu, crossing several small
| | |streams and rather rough ground.
| | |Bilo is a considerable market and
| | |Customs post, situated on the W.
| | |side of the L. Tarli, a good-sized
| | |stream running N. to the Gibbe
| | |between clay banks.
| | |
| | |From Bilo the main road to Leka
| | |branches off S.W. between T. Sodu
| | |and J. Soksaw.
| | |
_J. Sodu Pass_| 5 | 141 |The Lekempti road keeps almost due
| | |W., passing just S. of the summit
| | |of Sodu. The ascent is not as bad
| | |as it appears, as the road is well
| | |graded.
| | |
| | |There is a wide open spur just
| | |before the final rise to the pass
| | |begins, which would form a good
| | |camping place. Several small
| | |streams are crossed in the ascent.
| | |
_River Wama_ | 12 | 153 |From the pass, which is a very
| | |narrow saddle, the descent is
| | |steep for 2½ miles; small camping
| | |ground, with limited water supply
| | |at this point. Then road follows a
| | |long spur, falling gradually
| | |towards the Wama. Wooded slopes
| | |and no cultivation. The Wama is a
| | |considerable stream, flowing in
| | |rather marshy ground between clay
| | |banks, but with gravelly bottom,
| | |30 feet wide, 2 feet deep; rapid.
| | |Shown on Michel’s and other maps
| | |as a tributary of the Didessa.
| | |Cattle and sheep plentiful and
| | |good grazing; the river is eastern
| | |limit of Dejaj Kumsa’s country.
| | |
_Nekempti_ | 24 | 177 |After crossing the Wama, the road
| | |runs up a long narrow spur coming
| | |from W. shoulder of G. Tuka. G.
| | |Tuka is thickly wooded and
| | |precipitous, though round-topped.
| | |At 5 miles, a road to Leka
| | |branches W. up a broad valley
| | |formed by another branch of the
| | |Wama. The Leka plateau at the E.
| | |end appears steep-sided and
| | |thickly wooded. Leka is the head-
| | |quarters of Dejaj Damasi, and is
| | |said to be extremely fertile,
| | |producing much coffee. From the
| | |Leka road the track ascends more
| | |steeply; country well cultivated
| | |and thickly inhabited. Long,
| | |narrow, steep-sided spurs run S.
| | |from the water parting formed by
| | |the western end of G. Tuka. Water
| | |is plentiful. At 15 miles is a
| | |small village and church. Between
| | |this and Nekempti many small
| | |streams are crossed and ground is
| | |much broken. Nekempti is the
| | |residence of Dejaj Kumsa (called
| | |by Abyssinians Gabra Xiavrihir).
| | |He is a young Galla, a Christian,
| | |and has built himself a church.
| | |His ideas are advanced, and he has
| | |a garden for European plants, and
| | |is trying to improve the native
| | |coffee and cotton. His gibe is new
| | |and well built. There are several
| | |Arab merchants established here.
| | |The chief market is on Thursday,
| | |but there is a daily market.
| | |
| | |Nekempti is on the watershed
| | |between the Wama and Angur, and to
| | |the N. the ground drops steeply to
| | |the wide flat Angur valley.
| | |
_Sasiga_ | 13 | 190 |From Nekempti the road runs W.,
| | |keeping near the watershed, which
| | |connects with the N. end of the
| | |Leka plateau. After about 5 miles
| | |it turns N.W., and several streams
| | |flowing N. are crossed. At the
| | |Sasiga market place on (Friday) G.
| | |Jimata there is a splendid view
| | |looking down into the Didessa
| | |valley, and across the Angur
| | |valley, towards the Limu hills;
| | |the Didessa and Angur valleys
| | |proper were, till recently, great
| | |elephant grounds up to the Abai.
| | |The elephants are now practically
| | |exterminated, and the ground is
| | |being brought under cultivation,
| | |though, as it is unhealthy, the
| | |people continue to live on the
| | |high ground.
| | |
_Didessa R._ | 24 | 214 |From Sasiga there is a very steep
| | |descent of 1,200 feet. Then the
| | |road is generally level, and
| | |crosses several streams before the
| | |L. Arso, where there is a fine
| | |camping ground at the 13th mile;
| | |thence there is a slight rise to
| | |the Tankara ridge, which is the
| | |eastern boundary of the Didessa
| | |ravine.
| | |
| | |From this ridge the descent is
| | |very steep, winding, and rough to
| | |the Didessa, slopes thickly
| | |wooded. The Didessa is 150 yards
| | |(?) wide, 2 feet deep; current 2½
| | |miles, stony bottom, beautiful
| | |water. Good camping place for a
| | |small party in dry season on W.
| | |bank.
| | |
_Merechi_ | 8 | 222 |From the river the ascent of the
| | |W. side of the ravine begins at
| | |once. The road is very rough and
| | |bad, and ground on each side is
| | |covered with bamboo. The ascent is
| | |in three distinct stages, the last
| | |being much the worst, no attempt
| | |being made to grade it. Between
| | |the first and second stage the L.
| | |Jirma is crossed, and a small
| | |tributary of it is passed before
| | |the final stage.
| | |
| | |Merechi, a small village, Saturday
| | |market, and Customs observation
| | |post. It is situated on the top of
| | |a ridge about 2½ miles behind the
| | |edge of the ravine. Between runs
| | |the Laga Jirma, and the valley is
| | |a good camping ground. This is the
| | |beginning of Walega.
| | |
_Gimbi_ | 12 | 234 |The N. end of the Merechi ridge
| | |runs up to the escarp, which now
| | |begins to trend N.W. The plateau
| | |is very undulating and broken by
| | |confused narrow valleys. There is
| | |a considerable population, and the
| | |country is very fertile. At the
| | |10th mile the Garsa ridge, running
| | |N. and S., is fairly well defined;
| | |otherwise the features are very
| | |confused. The Gallel stream, at
| | |9th mile, is a good size, but
| | |water is everywhere plentiful. T.
| | |Jerko, a very sharp cone 30 miles
| | |to the S., is very conspicuous,
| | |and the road to Dejaj Goti’s
| | |country runs N. of it, through the
| | |Siva district. Gimbi is the
| | |residence of Fitaurari Amenti,
| | |uncle of Dejaj Kumsa.
| | |
_Dungoro, L. | 13 | 247 |From Gimbi the general direction
Fincha_ | | |of the road alters and strikes
| | |N.N.W. towards Beni Shangul. The
| | |country continues well watered,
| | |cultivated, and populated, with
| | |the same confusion of narrow
| | |valleys. It passes through the
| | |small districts or townships of
| | |Siban (where Fitaurari Debaba,
| | |another uncle of Dejaj Kumsa, has
| | |a house), Aroji, and Dungoro. This
| | |latter is bounded on the S. by the
| | |L. Fincha, a considerable rocky
| | |stream, which is the last
| | |tributary of the Didessa crossed.
| | |
T. Eriwani | 11 | 258 |Five miles beyond L. Fincha,
| | |skirting the western slopes of T.
| | |Ghinghi, the track is rough and
| | |hilly. Several small streams rise
| | |in this hill and, after uniting,
| | |flow away S. between T. Jerko and
| | |T. Wallel, becoming, lower down,
| | |the Birbiri, which joins the Baro
| | |near Gore. T. Wallel is now very
| | |clearly seen to the S.W. T.
| | |Eriwani forms the watershed
| | |between the head waters of the
| | |Birbiri and the tributaries of the
| | |Yabus. Water is rather scarce
| | |between T. Ghinghi and Eriwani.
| | |Fitaurari Debaba’s second house is
| | |in a very conspicuous position on
| | |the watershed, W. of the road.
| | |
_Najo_ | 10 | 268 |To Najo the road is easy, and
| | |country open. The Lagas, Henna,
| | |and Dilla are crossed, the latter
| | |a considerable stream, in which a
| | |certain amount of gold washing is
| | |done. The sides of its valley are
| | |very steep.
| | |
| | |About 2 miles S. of Najo and 1½
| | |miles E. of the road is M.
| | |Camboul’s house in the midst of
| | |his trial shafts. This is the most
| | |promising part of M. Ilg’s
| | |concession.
| | |
| | |Najo is only a small village, but
| | |Dejaj Kumsa is building a new
| | |house there to be his hunting
| | |head-quarters.
| | |
Guti Mudema | 7 | 275 |Passing Najo the country begins to
| | |fall perceptibly, and is much more
| | |open. The undulations are broader,
| | |lower, and flatter. There is less
| | |cultivation, but many more cattle.
| | |The inhabitants are few, and are
| | |mainly engaged, it is said, in the
| | |gold-washing on the Yabus.
| | |
| | |Guti Mudema is simply a post on
| | |the watershed between the Lagas
| | |Alatu and Genasi and the L. Deivo,
| | |which commands a very extensive
| | |view into Beni Shangul and the
| | |Lega Galla country. The two former
| | |streams flow between clay banks.
| | |All this country was traversed
| | |after a considerable amount of
| | |rain had fallen, so all the
| | |streams were flowing strongly. As
| | |a rule, they would be quite
| | |shallow.
| | |
_L. Deivo_ | 2½ | 277½ |Flows in a deep valley, with very
| | |steep sides.
| | |
_Gori_ | 7 | 284½ |A small village, the residence of
| | |Fitaurari Densa. Road is over an
| | |open plateau with a strongly-
| | |marked escarp falling to the W.;
| | |to the E. a range of low
| | |mountains, running N., marks the
| | |great escarp from the western side
| | |of the Didessa and southern side
| | |of the Abai valley.
| | |
_L. Komiso_ | 3½ | 288 |The ground falls very rapidly into
| | |the Komiso valley, which is bound
| | |by a very steep, high escarp on
| | |the S. Between the Komiso and
| | |Mendi there is a wide broken
| | |valley, with the L. Sache flowing
| | |past T. Wandi, a well-marked hill
| | |2 miles W. of the road. This hill
| | |is the northern limit of Dejaj
| | |Goti’s country, which appears to
| | |extend up in a narrow strip along
| | |the E. side of the Yabus.
| | |
_Mendi_ | 19 | 307 |Mendi lies just S. of the last
| | |rise before the road makes its
| | |final descent into the Yabus. Here
| | |the promontory between the
| | |Didessa, Abai, and Yabus breaks
| | |into two ranges of hills, one
| | |running due N. by Gumbi and one
| | |N.W. towards the Beni Shangul
| | |hills through G. Gunfi. The road
| | |descends by the W. side of the
| | |valley in the fork, and is very
| | |steep and rough, the side of the
| | |valley being, as well, cumbered
| | |with with dense bamboo.
| | |
| | |Mendi is the last Galla village,
| | |and from there to the Yabus water
| | |cannot be counted on.
| | |
_L. Badeisa_ | 12 | 319 |Halfway down the descent there is
| | |generally water in small
| | |quantities, but the camping ground
| | |is uneven, confined, and with no
| | |good feeding when bamboo is out of
| | |leaf.
| | |
| | |W. of the road near Mendi the
| | |ground falls gradually, with
| | |slight undulation, to the Yabus.
| | |There is thick wooding, and till
| | |quite lately the valley was quite
| | |full of elephants, but these are
| | |rapidly being exterminated.
| | |
| | |Buffalo, waterbuck, hartebeest,
| | |and probably greater kudu are
| | |abundant.
| | |
K. Dabeisa | 7 | 326 |This practically marks the end of
| | |the descent, and the road from
| | |here to the Yabus is easy. Black
| | |population (very thin) begins.
| | |Bertas.
| | |
_K. Yabus or | 9 | 335 |Yabus is the Arabic, and Dabus the
L. Dabus_ | | |Galla variant of the name; was
| | |slightly in flood when crossed,
| | |and was then about 100 feet wide
| | |and 3 feet deep at the ford. There
| | |is another crossing further S.,
| | |near where the river breaks
| | |through the connection between the
| | |Gunfi and Beni Shangul mountains.
| | |
| | |N. of the crossing is a wide, flat
| | |valley with some scattered hills.
| | |
_K. Sheira_ | 5 | 340 |Crossing the river the ground soon
| | |begins to rise. There is a little
| | |water in K. Sheira.
| | |
J. Aside | 7 | 347 |A pass over J. Aside leads into
| | |the sub-district of Afodu, which
Afodu | 2 | 349 |is under a woman called Zem Zem.
| | |The village of Afodu is the head-
| | |quarters of a Kanyazmach, the
| | |Abyssinian commandant in Beni
| | |Shangul. Water is drawn from the
_K. Tumat_ | 2 | 351 |Tumat, in which there are always
| | |pools.
| | |
K. Mange | 7 | 358 |Through Beni Shangul there are no
| | |difficulties on the road, though
| | |the going is bad, owing to the
| | |amount of small quartz stones
| | |everywhere. The K. Mange is dry.
| | |N. of it and W. of the road is J.
| | |Fadamo, which is very steep,
| | |rocky, and thickly wooded. Here
| | |Abd el Rahman’s people made their
| | |last stand against the
| | |Abyssinians, and it took 12 days’
| | |fighting to clear the hill, both
| | |sides losing heavily. The final
| | |surrender was only induced by
| | |hunger.
| | |
_Bomo_ | 7 | 365 |At Bomo there is a small village,
| | |but like all those seen in Beni
| | |Shangul, it is half deserted. It
| | |is very difficult to form an idea
| | |of how thickly the country is
| | |inhabited, as the bush completely
| | |shuts in all the villages. A good
| | |many were seen from the top of J.
| | |Fadamo, but it was a very misty
| | |day and it was hard to make them
| | |out distinctly.
| | |
_Belfodio | 5 | 370 |This is the head-quarters of
Khamis_ | | |Fitaurari Mohammed Wad Hojali,
| | |brother of Abd el Rahman (Tur el
| | |Guri), and is generally called
| | |Khamis by the Abyssinians.
| | |
_Famaka_ (Blue| 60 | 430 |Remainder of route in Sudan.
Nile) | | |
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

130.—ROSEIRES TO ABU RAMLA AND DUNKUR.

BY MAJOR C. W. GWYNN, C.M.G., D.S.O., JUNE, 1901.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Roseires | — | — |The road to Abu Ramla is a very
(Abramat) | | |narrow track much shut in by thick
| | |bush and grass. After rain the
| | |heavy clay soil produces a
| | |particularly heavy and sticky mud.
| | |
| | |For 5 miles from the river the
| | |bush is very thick and soil very
| | |heavy. From the 5th to 10th mile
| | |the soil becomes more sandy and
| | |the bush is thinner. At 12th mile
| | |3 large adansonias are passed;
| | |soil heavy clay but bush still
| | |open.
| | |
| | |At the 16th mile the road reaches
| | |the El Geri hills and turns
| | |sharply north-east skirting their
| | |foot. These hills are not more
| | |than 200 feet high and are covered
| | |with low trees. They form a
| | |continuous mass though much broken
| | |and rocky. Along the northern
| | |slopes there is a quantity of
| | |bamboo, and road is stony.
| | |Skirting round north and
_El Geri | 23 | 23 |north-east foot of the hills,
(Sheikh’s | | |road comes to a small Hameg
Village)_ | | |village. Water (the first since
| | |Roseires) is obtained up a steep
| | |valley 1 mile south of the
| | |village. Road skirts the hills to
| | |this point, and then strikes off
| | |east again to J. Migin. Ground is
| | |nearly flat and clay very heavy,
| | |bush thick except at the 31st mile
| | |where there is a slight rise and
| | |open ground. Number of giraffe
| | |along the road.
| | |
_J. Migin_ | 14 | 37 |J. Migin is a small rocky hill. At
| | |its northern end is a water hole
| | |in the rocks, which seldom is
| | |emptied, but which does not appear
| | |to be fed by a spring, so should
| | |not be depended on. There are said
| | |to be other water holes on the
| | |hills.
| | |
| | |No water from this to Abu Ramla
| | |except after rain. Khor Madar,
| | |which flows to Khor Zagoli,
| | |crossed first branch at 44th mile,
| | |and second ½ mile further on. Road
J. Abu Ramla | 17 | 54 |passes 1 mile south of J. Withwith
| | |and strikes the Abu Ramla mountain
| | |half-way along its west side,
| | |crossing the large dry Khor Aluk a
| | |mile before. Road then turns north
| | |and skirts round the northern foot
| | |of the mountain.
| | |
_Mek’s | 4 | 58 |Mek Adam Wad Dafeir’s Village is
Village_ | | |at the foot of the north-east
| | |corner of the mountain. Several
| | |other small villages are passed
| | |before reaching. Water is obtained
| | |from wells in Khor Ramla, a mile
| | |east of the mountain, quality not
| | |good, but 100 animals were easily
| | |kept in water.
| | |
| | |Mek is of Fung origin, but the
| | |inhabitants chiefly Gumz.
| | |
| | |From Abu Ramla, the trade road to
| | |Dunkur passes through Abu Mendi my
| | |party left the main track however
| | |at the first point where Dinder is
| | |met, and after that no well
| | |defined track was found till a
| | |couple miles before the Khor
| | |Adabiba.
| | |
| | |Leaving Abu Ramla, road strikes
| | |almost due east. The soil is much
_Khor Ramla_ | 1 | 59 |more sandy, and even in wet
| | |weather fairly good going. Bush
| | |generally very thick, principally
| | |low trees.
| | |
_Khor | 9 | 68 |Large pool in Khor Babeheir; a
Babeheir_ | | |khor about 10 yards wide, rising
| | |in the Bongo Hills and flowing to
_J. Abu Nesag_| 1½ | 69½ |the Dinder. Road skirts north of
| | |J. Abu Nesag, a low rocky hill.
| | |Road stony, and several small dry
| | |khors to cross.
| | |
_Khor Abujar_ | 5 | 74½ |Khor Abujar, sandy bottom, was in
(Abu Holgar) | | |flood when crossed, but would
| | |probably always contain water in
| | |pools or in wells, 50 yards wide,
| | |banks easy.
| | |
_Khor Ainki_ | 4 | 78½ |Khor Ainki was in flood, only just
| | |fordable, gravelly bed, 50 yards
| | |wide; water always obtainable.
| | |Good camping ground, east bank.
| | |Just east of the khor there is a
| | |slight gravelly rise, but bush
| | |still very thick; no view
| | |obtainable. Road turns north-east
| | |to the Dinder.
| | |
_Khor | 5½ | 84 |Khor Barageili. Fair camping
Barageili_ | | |ground; water in pools.
| | |
_Dinder R._ | 1½ | 85½ |Dinder is reached at the foot of
| | |small rocky hill, J. Mogumbi. Main
| | |road to Dunkur appears to skirt
| | |along the bank, but the ground is
| | |very broken and path is almost
| | |invisible. With a view to taking
| | |the most direct road, the
| | |expedition crossed the river—about
| | |100 yards wide, stony, and rocky.
| | |Rapid flow of water, 2 feet deep.
| | |Guides missed the track, which was
| | |said to exist, but of which there
| | |was little or no sign, and when
| | |the Dinder was met again it was
| | |above the ford the guides had been
| | |making for. River was followed to
| | |the mouth of the Khor Abu Gemmeiz,
| | |where it was just fordable. Bush
| | |traversed was very thick;
| | |quantities of water buck, roan
| | |antelope, and other game.
| | |
_Dinder_ and | 14 | 99½ |River forded just above the
Khor | | |junction—100 yards wide. River in
| | |partial flood, 3 feet deep.
| | |Skirted along left bank of Dinder
| | |along a disused track.
| | |
Khor Damu | 5½ | 105 |Khor Damu, 20 yards wide, rocky
| | |with steep banks. Left river and
1st Terrace | 2 | 107 |reached 1st Terrace which marked
| | |the beginning of the foot hills.
| | |Path came in from south apparently
| | |from Abu Mendi.
| | |
_Khor Adabiba_| 1½ | 108½ |Khor Adabiba, small khor with
| | |large pools; water always found.
| | |
_Dunkur_ | 9½ | 118 |The road touches the Dinder at
(Sheikh | | |55th mile, and then turns towards
Nasser’s) | | |the chief village of the Dunkur
| | |district, which lies in undulating
| | |ground about 2½ miles south of the
| | |Dinder. There is a considerable
| | |amount of cotton grown, and
| | |tribute to Kwara is paid in
| | |cotton. The natives are of a mixed
| | |Hamag and Gumz stock. Many of them
| | |can speak Amharic as well as
| | |Arabic. A few Abyssinians are
| | |generally to be found here.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

131.—DUNKUR TO GALLABAT.

BY MAJOR C. W. GWYNN, JUNE, 1901.

--------------+--------------------+----------------------------------
| Miles. |
Place. +-------------+------+ Description.
|Intermediate.|Total.|
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------
Dunkur | — | — |
| | |
_Dinder_ | 2½ | 2½ |About 100 yards wide, 3 feet deep;
| | |stream 3 miles an hour (but this
| | |was after rain). Banks easy, bed
| | |stony; a good deal of limestone in
| | |the river bed.
| | |
_Khor Ajban_ | 3½ | 6 |Country on north bank fairly open.
| | |Pool of good water in Khor Ajban.
| | |
_Sheikh | 1½ | 7½ |Sheikh Hassan’s Village small, and
Hassan’s_ | | |many of inhabitants have moved to
| | |Gallabat. At the first village, ½
| | |mile beyond Khor Ajban, road
| | |branches east to Kwara.
| | |
Dardakara | 6½ | 14 |Road stony, and crosses a number
| | |of khors—some dry, but most with
| | |good pools—before reaching the
| | |practically deserted village of
| | |Dardakara.
| | |
Adzko | 1 | 15 |Adzko also deserted.
| | |
_Khor Adzko_ | 1½ | 16½ |Large pool of good water in khor:
| | |road, very rough, skirting north
| | |side of J. Wadrabah.
| | |
| | |Site of old Dunkur village in
| | |hills to east of road.
| | |
_Khor Gelagu_ | 4 | 20½ |Village of Gelagu, on south side
| | |of khor, only contains 3 or 4
| | |families. Khor is 20 yards wide;
| | |unlimited water supply, though
| | |little stream is apparent.
| | |
| | |From Gelagu there is a road round
| | |the Umzenidi hill, but the more
| | |direct road is over the pass N.E.
| | |of the village—this is stony but
| | |fairly easy.
| | |
El Gulut | 6½ | 27 |El Gulut is a considerable Kunjara
(_Khor Afar_) | | |village on the Khor Afar (a good
| | |sized khor with water in pools).
| | |From Gulut there is a road to
| | |Kwara. A good deal of cotton is
| | |grown in neighbourhood. There is a
| | |direct route from El Gulut to the
| | |Khor Dibaba, near J. Bayisa, but a
| | |more easterly route through
Magumbal | 5 | 32 |Magumbal (a deserted village)
| | |avoids the cotton soil.
| | |
_Khor Dibaba_ | 6½ | 38½ |Khor Dibaba, 30 yards wide with
| | |large pools, is crossed about 1
| | |mile west of J. Bayisa. A very
| | |large wild fig tree at the
| | |crossing.
| | |
_Seraf | 9½ | 48 |Up to this point water is
Ardeiba_ | | |plentiful, but none is met with
| | |crossing the watershed between
| | |Rahad and Dinder. Road is well
| | |marked and good. Very little water
| | |in the Seraf Ardeiba. Road
| | |skirting this khor is rough.
| | |
_Rahad R._ | 5 | 53 |Rahad about 50 yards wide, very
| | |slight flow of water between large
| | |pools. Bed stony. Many crocodiles
| | |in pools. Good camping grounds
| | |either bank.
| | |
Khor Andeiogo | 4 | 57 |On north bank of Rahad there is
| | |cotton soil, trees not so thick
| | |but more grass. Khor Andeiogo
| | |would generally be dry but there
| | |is a small pool east of the road.
| | |J. Dagarish, a low wooded hill,
| | |lies on the road at 59th mile.
Khor Tair | 6½ | 63½ |Khor Teir is a large dry khor.
| | |
| | |No water obtainable.
| | |
| | |Shortly after crossing Khor Teir,
| | |ascent of the escarp, extending
| | |from J. Madbura to J. Belula, and
| | |forming the watershed between
| | |Rahad and Atbara, begins.
| | |
| | |The ascent of the lower spurs of
| | |J. Belula is pretty steep.
| | |
New Shangal | 9½ | 73 |New Shangal is on the watershed
| | |and has only recently been built.
| | |
_Shangal_ | 1½ | 74½ |Shangal Khor is the first place
| | |after passing the Rahad that water
| | |can be relied on.
| | |
Gallabat | 4½ | 79 |On the top of the escarp,
| | |cultivation begins and extends at
| | |intervals to Gedaref.
--------------+-------------+------+----------------------------------

132.—FAZOGLI TO KIRIN.

BY LIEUTENANT JACKSON, R.E., JANUARY, 1900.