A MISSION TO ABYSSINIA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16412, 4 January 1919, Page 11

A MISSION TO ABYSSINIA.

nE tc ZEALAXDER'S interesting EXPERIENCES.

(in on orn ows coBSESroxDEST.) LONDON, November 1. Major and Mrs Frank Holmes are at prcicnt in London. Major Holmes is t he eldest surviving son of Mr James Holmes, of Timara. Ho is an Old Boy 0 f Otago 8.H.5., and was practising as an engineer in England before the war. Getting his commission in the roval Marines, he served with the R.N. Division throughout the Oallipoli cam„.,i<Tn aud afterwards for more than two"-rears in France. In February ot this vear he relinquished his commis- ; 0 n "retaining his rank, in order to • undertake a mission for the Foreign f Office, to Abyssinia. Major Holmes tells me that he left volant! on March 20fb, charged with thef dutv of organising trade between Great Britain and Abyssinia. His jour„ev out was comparatively uneventful for +liese days, but would have been considered highly exciting in peace times Travelling in mufti through war -ones i« q uite a different thing from being in uniform when everything is done to make ono's passage easier. In mu fii it is impossible to get through without being thoroughly accredited by one's own Government. Major Holmes, of course, had no difficulty in this respect Travelling from Paris to Syracuse in Sieilv, he crossed by a large sea convoy to Port Said, and waited Vl'ore for some time for a ship to prof tee j to Djibouti, in French Somaliiand, which is tlio port of Abyssinia. Djibouti lie found one of the hottest places ho had ever been in. The town is very well built, ami comparatively healthy, and the French have constructed a railway to Addes Ababa, which is the capital 'of Abvssinia, and the seat of government.* The journey from the coast to Addes Ababa takes three days, of twelve hours each. The Abyssinian border is about 50 miles from Djibouti, and the first stage of 130 miles, to Dire Donah, is through dismal and barren volcanic desert, bub in spite of its unattractive nppearanco there ate many Somali sheep and camels browsing on the short, prickly scrub among the rocks. Dire Dnnah is a pleasant, Frencli-Tniiit railway tow", where the Abyssinian custom-houses are situated. .Vest morning the train leaves for Hawash through very fertile country, where plenty of game—chiefly buck and gazelle—is seen scampering away on the approach of the train. The ascent from tne coast is ra»id. Diro Donah is 24,000 ft above soa level, and Hawash, which is a small railway town, 3000 ft. The last stage of the journey is the most interesting. Between Hawash and Addes Ababa the land is exceedingly rich. Large herds of cattle can be seen from the train, being tended by slave boys and girls. Thoy are generally owned by Galla chiefs, the Gallas being the subject race, and the peasantry of the country. > Addes Ababa occupies a very pretty Itosition forming a horseshoe in the footlills of tho higher mountains, about* SftflOft above sea level. It has a population varying from 28,000 to 40,000, according to the season of the year, the larger figure being Teached at the end of the rainy season, which lasts from July to September. Addes Ababa was founded by the late King Menelik, an extraordinarily intelligent main, and a eapnblo -general; He claimed direct descent xrom the Queen of Sheba and King, Solomon. . . .-. Tho population of Abyssinia is estimated at" 9,000,000, half of whom are Amharies; or tho Tilling people, and the others Gallas. There are also many slaves, -who'are bought and sold in tho market like sheen and cattle, but are well treated. The Abyssinians have been .Christians since 300 A.D., a remarkable fact, since they have been surrounded by "-Moslems", : and' tbeir neatest Christian neighbours are 1000 miles away. Their religions rites .are somewhat- diluted with both and Moslem customs, but their religion is remarkably pure, considering the ignorance of tHe people, and their isolation. They are of s>emetic origin, thin-lipped, bright, and alert, showing rery little signs of Negroid blood. SOME FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY.

Major Holmes says tliafc although the country is in a very backward state, the. loading men are iiitolligenfc and capable. ..Tho country is ruled at present by a daughter of King Menelik, as Empress, and ono of his nephews, I'astnfa'ri, as regent. In his hands most of the power is. Ho is a handsome, intelligent young man of about 2<5 years of age who wiil probably do much to advance the condition of his poople. / Afajor Holmes had many conversations with him, and'found that he took a deep and broad view of things. The vienlth of Abyssinia is chiefly in cattle 'and slieop, vast numbers of "which can be seen pasturing on tho rich high lands. They are in splendid condition, nnd, owing to being constantly herded, i aro very tame. "I have never seen better cattle-countrv anywhere. It is i much liko North Uruguay and Southern Brazil—woll watered and richly grassed." There are about twelve million head of cattle, and 20,000,000 head of sheep—tho latter a poor type, but yielding excellent mutton. The cattle arc of three different breeds. The small Indian Zebu predominates, tho Indian humped cattle being the next most impoitant, and universally used for drawing the antiquated "wood piough. The third was most interesting to Major Holmes,'tis it was tho first African bullock ho had seen with a straight chine. It is the largest of all, and the cows appear to be 2;ood milker.?. The high lands of Abyssinia seom capable of being turned into a wonderful granaiy. EXPOPvT TUADE. Tljo country is rich in timber and water-power; coffee of very fino flavour is indigenous, and the beeswax obtained from wild bees in incredible quantities is. ono of tho most interesting exports.. Tho bees are of medium size, and very fcrocious. One tree will sometimes contain about twenty hives. The export of wax is about 2000 tons per year., lleforo the war tho bulk of it

/ was sold in London for transhipment to Russia, where it was used cliieflv for i',, church candles. The chief bee pest is 4 tho monkey, which does a great ueal of harm to the hives. ; • THe British Legation in Addes Ababa is controlled by Captain the Hon. W. l< 0. Thesiger, D.5.0., brother of the v Viceroy of India. There are also at the capital town, French, Italian, and Russian legations. An interesting feature of the town is ; the huge market place, whero the pro--1 ■ tL^2 C 0 °f.^ e country is brought for sale. V 'here is a separate horse market for the sale of excellent Abyssinian ponies v 1 of Arab breed. They can usually be : J purchased for a few pounds. Some ten ' f? ars a ?° Menclik had given to t mm a quantity of eucalyptus seedlings *hich grow so well that he imported a »■■ ■ |argo amount of seed, and. distributed +>. amM S st hi" s people, with an ordt-r that all the landowners were to plant L bpst five per cent, of their land with v eucalyptus. The result is that to-day j.; ttuch of the country is covered with £ -^ e, 7 fine eucalyptus' plantations, more j in and around the town of ! i Addes Ababa. , ' - !