'FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. COMPILED BY CAPTAIN E.J.E SWAYNE, 16TH BENGAL INFANTRY.' [21v] (47/76)
The record is made up of 1 volume (36 folios). It was created in 1895. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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26
0
the interior. It wsis reported in 1888 by Cnptciin Gissing, R..N., ttmt the natives
of Tajoura found no difficulty in obtaining shipments of arms from Obok, that 300
stand of arms were then in their possession. 1 he terms of the Brussels Act have
constantly been evaded, and as the Abyssinians require principally arms, Jibouti
has thus been able to take some of the Harrar and Shoa trade from Zaila, where
the authorities holding to a stricter interpretation of the terms of the Act,
refused to supply arms to the natives.
An American house at Aden in 1893 started a sub-
agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
for skins and
hides at Jibouti.
The town is fairly healthy. Some years ago (about 1892) there was an
epidemic of cholera. Doctor Deloncle was one of the victims.
Defence .—The settlement is at present unprotected by any defences. 1 1
is naturally, however, easily defensible landwards.
There is a loopholed light-house at Hyabili, con
nected by telephone with the settlement.
Troops .—The native levy and police, which are composed of Somalis and
Soudanese, are said to number 150, and to be armed with breech-loading rifles.
A small party occupies Hyabili light-house at the inland end of the made road (5
miles in the interior), and another party generally garrisons the French guard
house at Loyi-Ada. The men are good fighting material, especially the Soudan
ese.
Water.-
-There is a good well about one mile from the village close to the
Water.
shore. There are others inland.
Supplies .—More abundant than at Obok, but practically none for outside
„ .. consumption. A small number of sheep and gfoats come in
from the Lsa country, and the rest from Zaila.
Cultivation .—Vegetables are sometimes raised on the muddy patch crossed
by the causeway. The gardens here are larger than at Obok, and the water,
which is obtained from pits in the mud, is not so brackish.
Commun ica 110 ns.
(1) A good track over fairly flat ground along the coast past Loyi-Ada to
Communications. Za '^> glance 31 miles. There is very little
traihc on this road.
(2) A bad but well-watered road to Harrar, 2 days longer than the Zaila-
Harrar road, distance 187 miles.
Letters .—There are native police posts on this road at regular in
tervals, and a weekly post by means of camel sowars is established
between Jibouti and Harrar, and vice versa. At present only
letters are taken, to which French stamps are affixed. Parcels
are not received. Letters from Europe or India should be address
ed to Obok to be forwarded to Jibouti, etc. The post takes ^
days in transit between Jibouti and Harrar. Caravans take
from 15 (Leonteff) to 17 days (Lieutenant Mashkoff, 1892).
It was proposed to continue the made road from Hyabili into the
interior, but the Esa fearing that one of their means of livelihood
as carriers (by means of their camels) was endangered, put a
stop to the work, and traffic at the end of 1893 was at a stand
still.
(3) A branch road from Ugaz Robli leads to Shoa.
(4) There is a long and difficult round-about track to Obok, but it is
not used by caravans.
RaiLvay.—Xt is rumoured that a proposition to connect Jibouti and Harrar
by railway was lately discussed in Paris, with what result it is not known.
TRADE.
Imports. —Spirits, silk, soap, perfumery, fire-arms.
Exports. —Ivory, gold, coffee.
About this item
- Content
This volume consists of an intelligence document issued by the Government of India, Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Department, which provides comprehensive descriptions of French possessions on the African coast of the Gulf of Aden, including the towns of Obok [Obock] and Jibouti [Djibouti]. The volume contains two maps held in a map pocket, and is divided into nine sections.
The volume was compiled by Eric John Eagles Swayne, 16th Bengal Infantry. The printing statement reads, 'Simla: Printed at the Government Central Printing Office. 1895.'
Two hand stamps appear on the front cover and on folio 5, which read, 'War Office Library 15 Jan 96' and 'Intelligence Division 15 Jan 1896'.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (36 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume contains two maps held in a map pocket attached to the inside front cover, followed by a preface (f 6), a list of authorities consulted (f 7), a table of contents (f 8) and nine chapters of text (ff 9-34).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 36; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. COMPILED BY CAPTAIN E.J.E SWAYNE, 16TH BENGAL INFANTRY.' [21v] (47/76), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/60, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035459254.0x000030> [accessed 17 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/60
- Title
- 'FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN THE GULF OF ADEN. COMPILED BY CAPTAIN E.J.E SWAYNE, 16TH BENGAL INFANTRY.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 4r:20v, 21v:35v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence