'FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. COMPILED BY CAPTAIN E.J.E SWAYNE, 16TH BENGAL INFANTRY.' [‎17v] (39/76)

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year makes the southern port dangerous,
anchorage in 7 fathoms in the north-east port,
In both basins the bottom is mud,
and in 9 to 10 fathoms in the south
Lipid-houses.— Ihe channels are all buoyed out, and at night leading lights
make the entrance to the southern port fairly easy. The leading lights are a
red one on the Soleillet tower (74 feet), on the plateau on the north side of the
vallev with another red light (147 feet, visible to miles on the Plateau des
Pasteurs, north-north-west of the former. A red sector on a light-house on Cape
Obok close to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , indicates the zone of anchorage It was at one
time proposed to protect the south harbour by means of a breakwater built on
a reef.
Latterly a masonry tower with a white light (157 feet), visible 12 miles,
has been built on Cape Ras-Bir, shewing the entrance to the Gulf of Tajoura
to ships steaming south from Perim.
Pilotage.—There is a local pilot service.
Defence .—The harbour is incapable of defence by means of land batteries,
as ships lying there are fully exposed to a bombardment.
Ships generally lie in the south port about three-fourth mile off shore.
Landing arrangements.—Ihzxz is a special landing company. The shore is
low and shifting, but boats can be rowed up to a long and narrow wood and iron
pier under Government House. This pier was constructed by the Coal Company,
and is about 120 yards long, and at its head there is about J fathom at low water.
It was, however, decided some time ago to continue the pier to a total length of
400 yards to the edge of the La Clocheterie bank, where there is generally from
five to six fathoms of water.
Tramway .—There is a rickety tramway connecting the shore end of the
pier with the gardens in the Obok valley about 1 mite distant.
Coal Depot .—The coal depot and provision store is beside Mr. Mesnier’s*
warehouse, distant over a mile from the pier and situated across the valley on the
Plateau des Sources, close to the Penitentiary and Soleillet tower. The stock of
coal kept up varies ; in 1884 it.was said to amount to 3,000 tons, but only about
500 tons is now kept, owing to the want of custom, ships finding it more advant
ageous to buy coal at Perim, where it is cheaper and there are far greater quanti
ties. Mr. Mesnier’s ware-house stands in the middle of a court yard. It is fairly
well built, and is connected by a tramway with another ware-house in the middle
of the valley at the edge of the sea.
Coaling .—The Government and Messageries ships which coal here find
some difficulty in getting their coal on board. It is put in sacks and loaded in light
draft country boats of 8 or 9 tons, and thence carried to 80 ton barges moored in
deeper water. The latter are then tugged alongside the ships. When the pier is
finished, coal will be taken straight off to the ship in the barges. It has been
proposed also to have a dep6t on a small island in the harbour, when it is hoped
400 tons can be put on a ship in a day. At present the coal company claim to be
able to put 250 tons on board. The monopoly which was granted in 1884, expires
in 1895, when the “ Messageries Maritimes ” propose to make their own arrange
ments, and locate their depots at Obok and Jibouti. The present price of coal
at Obok is prohibitive. In 1893 coal cost at Obok from ^3-1-0 to ^"3-2-6 per
ton. At Aden, Perim, and Mauritius ^1-11-8 to ^1-15-0 per ton.
Shipping .—Besides Government and Messageries steamers, and an occa-
Sbping. sional coasting steamer, there is no shipping except
native craft of about 80 tons.
Gnardship .—A guardship has been stationed in the harbour since 1883.
The present guardship, L’Etoile, belongs to the Madagascar squadron.
She carries 6 guns of 3-94 inches, (10 centimetres) of the 1885 model, two
Hotchkiss guns, and a boat gun. The crew consists of 5 officers and 75 men..
The Captain in 1893 was Mons. Cotigny.
• Note.— Mesnier and Poingdextre, managed in 1893, by Mons. Villard.