THROUGH ABYSSINIA.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15156, 21 December 1914, Page 9

THROUGH ABYSSINIA.

ADVENTUROUS CASATAN JOUKNEY.

NEW ZEALANCERS IN TIIU AVfLDS.

(rr.OJI OCT. OVS COr.EEaPO.VDLXr.) LONDON, November 11. Mr JaiacH. Ho-.Tlison, of Dunpdin, gives nae an interesting account of an adventurous journey which lie recently made through iho liitto-knowii country of Abysfiiuia. Ho vcas accompanied by his wife, alao a Now Zealaiider, who W2£ tho first white lady to bo seen by tho inhabitants of many of tho towns and villages, ami consequently v.-as rogarcjed with great curiosity. Sir HoTvlison is a raining engineer. Hβ came to London a few years ago, and since- then has reported on mining properties in Bolivia. Spain, Wcsfc Africa, and other parts of tho world. On the present occasion ho Lad to report on various mining properties in Abyssinia and iho soureo of tho Nile on behalf of an English syndicate. Mr and 31rs.Ho\vlison, with.an assistant, a young .English mining- engineer, left. London in uctober, 1913, for Egypt. Tho Nile, However, was too low to permit of their proceeding by rivor, co they had to talco tteamer down tho Red Sea aud enter Abyssinia from Djibouti, the capital of French Somaliland. A railway is being constructed from there to the capital ol Abyssinia, Addis Abeba, tvhero they arrived just before the death of Menolik, «md saw, Jjdji his grandson and Accessor. Hero they joiued -Major Miles Backliouse, D.5.0.,- who arranged tho caravan.

The country is ruled on tho feudal eyatom, each province being governed by a chief, and before entry into any of theso provinces is permitted, it is necessary to got from,the Emperor the -reiqiif£i£& passports, wliich.aro -obtained in Addis Abeba. All the urinoipal European countries aro represented there, and tho British Legation has & lirio polo ground.

Major Backlioilso was busily occupied during their threo weeks' stay in tho; capital M preparing tho caravan which consisted of 14-3 raulos and horses and 90 servants, all Abyssinians, with the exception of two Somalis. They estimated that tho journey would last five months, and they carried food for that period. ' ■ ' v Tho firei. ..property to be Visited was in tlib centre -'of tho country,- and others were on'tho tributaries of th<J White and BlnoNiles; all, it in ay b* said, Tver© alluvial gold. As a matter of. fact, the journey lasted longer than intended*.and fresh supplies had to be got at Gambela, tho frontier town botweoTi' the SoUcTari and Abyssinia. Here they metj a Tasmanian. a Soudan Civil servant, in charge of tho Customs. Ths pdfc also had to bo topb fiill by shooting gazelle* buffalo, quail, and guinea fowl.

Ffoni G-ambcla' 3ir llowlisoa and Major Backhouse made a shorb expedition into the Anuak country. Tin's was made oh foot, iis no aljiinals can live there. This part of Abyssinia is nearly tilttrays at war -with soaio other tribo, anil dilritrs tlidir visit th6y had tho interesting experience of assisting and advising a native council of war. Those Amuaks arc mon of fine physique, tall and muscular, -who ssc6rn utterly any attempt at the proverbial string of bqads being absent.

Hy tho time they returned to Gambola, the rainy season had begun, and it was imnossiblo to do anyfurth'fcr'testing "wdrk. with the bore, so tho camp divided: Mr and Mr 3 Howlison ivent to tho Blue- to have a cursory giaricp at a property there. Tho assistant went homo via KJhaHounj, and Major Backhouse returned with tho bulk of the caravan to Addis Abeba. Mr Howlteoh said that Iris journey to tho Blue Nile, ■ with his wife, proved to be most interesting. Owing to tho rain it was very difficult ie> ctojs the swollen rivers, and these at times caused them niisicly and trouble. Thcj J also had plenty of experience with wild nmmslsj tho ctHititry being-full of big game. One night one of tlio raules only 12">) yards ffolil their teiifc was taken by a and another timo some of tho mules fetainpeded. Men Lad to go back threo days' journey to catch them, and ono was miseing, probably having served as a nieaj for a lion.

From Gatnbela they took a conrso duo north to Dabdk on tho Blue Kilo, then iv-orkorf north-westerly t<jßbseircs\ tho first Br'ttieh outpost in tho Soudan. They ha*d been advised not, to go to Koselfcs because of reported trouble botwetin tho Arabs nnd Abyssinia us, and they had no passports for that terrri-t tory. But they venturer!, and Mr Hovrlison said they fotmd tho Arabis {.ho iuoot diarniing peoplo they had met. Mr arid Mrs lion-lison haro just reached London, having been out of touch of civilisation lor j>3ie greater , part of a.year. !Mr Howlison declared himself tjUite satisfied Tvith tho prospoets of ?on;o of the properties, but tho v.holo mutter is now in abeyance ou Hecount of the ivar. He enjored his experiences greatly. Tho travellers wero under canvas tho whole time, and with tho exception of two months, wcro tho saddle each day. Theirs -was the biggest British earaVnn tliat had ever gono through Abyssinia.