'FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. COMPILED BY CAPTAIN E.J.E SWAYNE, 16TH BENGAL INFANTRY.' [‎18r] (40/76)

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There is also a Government buggalow Large trading vessel. , “ The Rapide, which plies between
Obok and Jibouti.
ilfessagertes steamers. —Obok has been in direct communication with
Marseilles since August 1888.
The Messageries line of steamers have since then made Obok a port of call
on their way to Mauritius and back.
They leave Marseilles on the twelfth of each month, call at Port-Said and
Suez, and reach Obok on the 23rd of the month, twelve days after leaving Mar
seilles. After coaling they continue the voyage Did Aden, Zanzibar, Mayotte,
Nossi-Be, Diego-Suarez, Sainte-Marie, Tamalaye, to Reunion and Mauritius.
The same itinerary is followed on the return voyage, the steamers calling at
Obok on or about the loth of each month. The Pei-Ho is 384 feet long, 3325
tons, and 2400 H. P.
A small trading steamer Beltegeuse was, in 1893, trading between Obok,
Jibouti and Zaila.
Govemme?7t vessels. —Government despatch vessels leave Toulon once
every forty days and proceed to Indo-China, calling on the way at Obok.
Native craft. —Finally, Arab buggalows from Aden call twice a month with
provisions, once coming and once going. With a favorable wind the voyage to
Aden takes 15 to 18 hours, t^ut in the monsoons it sometimes takes several days.
Sailing vessels from Cutch (in India) to Zaila, Tajoura and Obok, can make a
good passage in the north-east monsoon between November and March, return
ing in the south-west monsoon between June and September.
The buggalow Large trading vessel. “ Rapide ” in a fair wind crosses from Obok to Jibouti in 6
hours. _ .
A Port duty of 9} francs used to be levied on all native craft, but as it was
found to drive away shipping, it was discontinued.
Distances by sea. —Obok to Perim about 55 miles, north-north-east by north.
To Aden 115 miles north-east by east. To Jibouti
Dl!;tanccs ' 27J miles south-south-west by south.
Freight. —Freight by Messageries steamers to Marseilles is 28 francs a
ton of 1,543 lbs. or cubic metre (at choice of company) for all merchandise taken
off the quay.
For merchandise consigned through the Company at Paris and shipped at
Havre or Marseilles, 40 francs per cubic metre, or ton of 2,204 lbs. plus the rail
freight from Paris to either of those ports.
Passages to Marseilles : 1st class ^34, 2nd class ^24, 3rd class
\ 2 £.
French officials, and the military get a reduction of 30 per cent.
Communications y Telegraphic. —Obok is connected by cable with Marseilles
via Perim and Malta, the cost of each message
being 4 francs a word.
Communications.
Obok is connected with Aden via Perim.
There is at present no telegraphic connection between Obok and Jibouti, but
a cable will shortly be laid. The estimated cost is 180,000 francs.
Postal. —A postal service has lately been established between Jibouti and
Harrar. Letters can thus be sent direct from Europe or India to the interior
vid Obok and Jibouti, and vice versd, but no arrangements have yet been made
for the transmission of parcels. French stamps are affixed at Jibouti. They are
large and well got up, and bear the title Protectorat Frar^ais de la Cote des
Somalis. They are reported to be one of the few lucrative sources of revenue
of the settlement.
The gun-boat “ L’Etoile ” and the Government buggalow Large trading vessel. “ Rapide” keep
up the connection between Obok and Jibouti.
There is only one road leading from Obok into the interior. It skirts the
shores of the Gulf of Tajoura as far as Sagallo, and then strikes inland to Shoa
and Abyssinia. It is a bad road, especially that part of it which skirts the seat
shore passing Tajoura, and it is not much used.