"الممتلكات الفرنسية في خليج عدن. إعداد النقيب إ. ج. إ. سواين، كتيبة المشاة البنغالية السادسة عشر." [ظ‎‎٢‎٢] (٧٦/٤٩)

28
The best anchorage off Tajoura is in 14 fathoms, about half a mile outside the
reef which forms the harbour, with the centre of the town bearing north-north
west.
Tribe .—The town is in possession of the Assoba sub-tribe, the Governor
being Bourhan-Abubekr.*
T
The population varies between 500 and 2,000, according to the season of
the year.
Arms .—About 300 rifles (breech and muzzle-loading) were bought in 1888
by the natives from the French traders at Obok, the rifles being brought over in
sailing boats. As Europeans are not allowed by the terms of the Brussels Act to
supply rifles to natives, the French Government has quite lately sent orders to the
colony to stop the traffic.
Trade .—The natives of the interior assemble here annually in
of January and February, for the
trade.
Trade.
the months
purpose of
Native crafts of about 70 tons bring over cloth, dates, and rice from Aden,
and carry back sheep, hides, and the products of Shoa. Others coast along to
Zaila and Berbera, and a direct trade is also carried on with Mokha and
Jeddah.
Sheep are exported to Aden in the months of August, September, October,
and November, at which season the prevailing w r inds are favourable.
The trade returns with Aden shew a decline since 1879.
Major Hunter gives the value of the imports and exports into and from
Tajoura for that year as Rs. 72,363. In 1883-84 the imports had decreased by
about Rs. 7,500, whilst the exports remained about the same, the total amounting
to Rs. 64,802. The trade has probably since 1884 still further diminished.
Industries .—The only industry at Tajoura is the manufacture of mats and
.... palm leaf baskets.
Industrie3. 1
The latter, which are either plain white, or dyed in various colours, are taken
to Obok and sold to passengers on the Messageries steamers.
Sheep, goats, and clarified butter are obtainable in the season
Supplies. during which pasture is obtainable in the neighbour-
h 0 °d- At other seasons supplies must be drawn
from the interior, and may be difficult to obtain.
Communications .—There are two caravan routes into the interior ; they
Communications. ^ ot .f 1 s ! < \ rt t ^ le sea as ^ ar as Sagallo, and thence
. strike inland past the head of Gubbet-Kharab, the
first going direct to Gondar in Abyssinia, a distance of 452 miles and the
other, a branch road going via the Wollo Galla country, to Shoa, 370 miles.
These routes, as also that to Obok, are described in chapter IX.
Defence.—k gun-boat could protect the place from attack by land, if able
Defence. * 0 rema i n at anchor in the harbour.
Stave-trade. Tajoura was not long ago an important slave mart, Christian
Slave-trade. slaves being brought down from Shoa (stolen or
, . . , , . ^ rom the natives), a 22 days’march, and after
... JattEr" F "" cl " as “ T *i“.
O
T . 0n , e hundred sla ! e s of both sexes arrived from the interior in September.
P T e A f a)0Ura W ?rr g,rls ’ 60 t0 70 dollars ; boys, 50 dollars. On
arnval a Hodeida g.rls were sold for ,25 dollars and boys for 75 dollars. As
^xufmd/^Kon 5 :. 1 ' 16 562 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ -de was
• Xote.—V ide foot note I, Chapter VII, Political.