'FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. COMPILED BY CAPTAIN E.J.E SWAYNE, 16TH BENGAL INFANTRY.' [‎18v] (41/76)

20
k'
There Is no overland route to JiboutI except through Tajouraand round the
head of Gubbet-Kharab, and this route is so rocky and round about that it is
never used.
Transport. —No transport is available on the spot. Camels or donkeys can,
however, be ordered in from the surrounding tribes,
Transport. j n w hi c h case, there will always be greater or less
delay according as the tribes happen to be grazing near by or far off. The tribes
are not always very willing to hire or sell animals. A good plan is to buy
animals at Tajoura and form the caravan at Sagallo, to which place goods can
betaken in a native sailing boat, or better still, tranship goods to Jibouti (for
Shoa, and collect camels there.
* Administration .—Obok is the capital of the colony, but Jibouti with its
., . . . better harbour is being rapidly developed and is
Administration. -ii i • ,1 • , , 1 . ,.
quickly becoming the more important place of the
two. It is proposed to shortly transfer the seat of Government to it.
Until 1884 the administration of the colony was carried on by a com
mandant.
This functionary has since then been replaced by a Governor, assisted by
the following staff—
Governor 1895 Mons. Lagarde.
Private Secretariat
One Secretary, and two Interpreters who
also act as customs officers.
Political
Native Administration
Treasury
Medical
Public works
One colonial administrator.
... One marine subordinate officer.
... One cashier.
... One doctor, 1st class, one doctor, 2nd class.
One subordinate Engineer of the Ponts-et-
Chausses corps.
Industries ,,, ... One subordinate.
Justice.— judicial powers of the colony are defined by a decree dated
the 2nd September 1887, supplemented by another dated the 22nd June 1880
which was again followed by another dated 4th September 1894.
The latter states that the grant of more extensive powers has become neces
sary owing to the development of Jibouti. I he main principle observed is to re-
the French cTdc ^ ^ Sut>mil: ° n ^ Euro P eans to the operation of
A functionary appomted by the Governor, usually the officer in charge of
the native administration, is invested with the combined powers of a “ lu^e de
paix and tribunal of commerce ” as exercised in France. He is assisted in the
native administration by native Judges, called Kazis, and by mixed tribunals com
posed of natives and Europeans. ^ coni
Bourhan Abubekr, a Dankali chief, was charged with the administration of a
part of the colony, but he has lately lost credit with the French.
two assessors!' ^ 1 a ‘ Jib ° Uti ’ consisti "g the Governor and
Finance. —There is practically no revenue.
^ 2 4,S, C a 0 n S df 0 o! :^:"r i0n UP t0 and inC,Uding l88 S amoun ted to
The town and de/eaceso-Obok consists of four separate quarters, two
The town and defences. .[ ro P ear b ofhcial and non-official, and two native
TI K ■ , , J 1 ageS ’ the Arab vil,a g e an d the Dankali village.
village, Ishituated^af Cape Oboton' th^^factlfthe £e, ^d"' C* ^
and immediately above the pier. ° ^ ateau ^ es Gazelles,
here about a mile and a quarter broad. ’ ^ ^ at va ^ e y ^bok,
* Note, Tuif footnote page 25.