Show ONE MORE IVER 9 G Bridges are few in Ethiopia where the trav trav- traveler traveler traveler eler must often swim or stay behind Prepared by National Geographic Society Washington D. D C. C C. Service roads still arc are few fewin fewin GOOD 1 1 in Ethiopia Smaller streams must be forded Often this is good fun Some of the porters usually fall in the water and this makes hilarious talk for the whole outfit for many days Since there is little for Ethiopians Ethiopians Ethiopians pians to talk about about- the small small- smallest smallest est incident becomes amat a- a a mat mat- matter matter ter of seemingly great gr at im im- importance importance im- im importance and furnishes an op op- opportunity opportunity opportunity for loud discussions At large streams where mules must musts swim s vi n travel tr vel js is s difficulty difficult To cross erosS the Blue lue Nile it is f usually su wise to go when the moon is so full that you can have its light when you break camp and arid start the descent early in the morning The early start is necessary because there are no camping places or wa water wa- wa water ter tei- from one one rim to the other oth r there there- therefore therefore fore ore the distance must be made made in in one day When the local chief It i cd d that a party a cs t cross the river riv riv- river er er he blows his horn and assem assem- assembles assembles assembles bles professional swimmers be be- because because because cause few of the caravan men can swim First you take off the mules' mules packs These with the men who cannot swim are arc then ferried to the other bank in hide boats called pushed by the swimmers who return to their job of getting the stubborn mules to the other side By getting one mule to lead the hope is that others will wilI follow too often this expectation is blasted One stubborn mule can upset the whole well-laid well plan It is danger danger- dangerous ous business for or the the swimmers caught in hi a welter of thrashing stricken panic stricken animals Many swimmers are killed at the fords every year Once across the swift water the climb up the steep narrow trails on the other side must be made with tired men and ani ani- mals In some places the trail is little more than a series of steps where progress is slow and difficult On such struggles you have no time timeto to enjoy the beauty of the rugged scenery Mail Goes Through Safely back on the upland nd trails life lUe is simple Association with a people who never worry Is a novel experience no telephone calls caUs no newspapers here Once in a while a mail mall runner brings news Delivery of letters by runners is isa isa isa a well-established well custom The Thc work steadily yet not hot too tO hard h rd Flour they make from front teft baking 6 thin loaves lo ves of called bread bread called they weave cloth of good quality into the distinctive native robe called a achamma chamma The sight at any village Is the procession of f women and girls carrying water in larl f j slon their t backs No newspapers newspapers are known but all news is broadcast at the markets each Village having its weekly mar mar- market market ket day Certain markets are known for special goods to many man people pe come to buy QUY the black wool woolen wool woot- woolen en cD cape or burnoose and to Dem- Dem bea they so go o for pepper On market day at Dessy thousands of people engage in hi trading and gossiping Bargains are usually long drawn out affairs and the people pride themselves being good traders As a general rule you find that a reasonable purchase can be made Salt bars are a more desirable cur cur- currency currency rency than silver coins The salt saU saUIs is made into bars at Red sea points then transported by caravan to the to-the the interior where it is traded for pep pep- pepper pepper pepper per which brings a good price in Eritrea and French Lake Lal c Tanas Tana's Story Stor s sLake Lake Tana is situated in the midst of volcanic formations of recent ge ge- geologic geologic ge- ge geologic age After considerable spec spec- speculation speculation speculation about its origin by the first I European explorers It is now gen gen- generally generally generally believed to occupy the lava lava- obstructed valley of an ancient Blue I Nile river The old river valley I Iwas was probably a deep one a flow oi of i lava entered it causing a natural dam ca at what is now the southern i end of the lake The fractures in inthis inthis this lava its appearance and vast surface extent mark a terrific natural upheaval of long ago There is a combination of low shore area near the lake with long gray ranges of volcanic mountains encircling it these rise abruptly runners are usually hardy men who do not run they know the short cuts and foot trails and how to pass through the territory of lo 10 local lo- lo local cal chiefs much of their time is spent in villages and churches along the way where they are welcome for forthe forthe forthe the stories they tell of happenings in inthe inthe inthe the capital Because of this they bring the mail mall safely You are told that no runner has been robbed of his mail in the his his- history history is- is tory of or of the the country He may fall faU upon evil days in hi some village but the letters which he carries in a cleft stick arc are not touched Highland Ethiopians are essential essentially ly an agricultural people Their ex ex- existence exIstence existence is based on the experience of their ancestors Cultivating a apiece apiece apiece piece of ground which will yield enough for the tite family and the tax collector they then let it lie fallow for Jor four or five years The ground is is' hardly scratched by the plowing Plows Plows Plows' are straight sticks of wood drawn by two bulls Children often plow and seem to enjoy it They shout threaten and crack their whips It Is amusing to see how little attention the bulls pay to their efforts However with much laughter and little exertion a field is eventually plowed ready for seed grain which is broadcast over it Village life lite is placid The people are content with few possessions Men spend much of the day in the fields and yet have plenty of time for gossip Women are arc modest they i i from the plains Some of the intrusions in in- intrusions tr and volcanic plugs espe espe- especially especially especially on the eastern watershed are arc extraordinary rising several thou thou- thousand thousand thousand sand feet sheer from their bases grim and bare More green than blue the water of this lake Is beautifully clear At sunrise the crimson glow is reflected by the water when the moon m on is full ripples on the lake catch the e light light r and make it a pleasing picture It Ii acts as a mirror when flocks locks of low-flying low white snowy-white egrets cross it to their nesting places in hi the papyrus swamps During the dry season its behavior behavIor behavior can be predicted with certainty In the early morning it is calm and serene near n ar noon a breeze blows from the lake to the shore gently at first gradually grad increasing until in inthe inthe inthe the early afternoon whitecaps appear ap ap- appear appear pear and by evening the waves have assumed a real importance I dashing against the rocky shores As night comes on all grows quiet again ready to begin the cycle once more One of the most interesting birds birdson on the lake is the African darter or snakebird When seen In the Ule wa wa- water water water ter it is entirely submerged except I Ifor for its long Jong snakelike head and neck When it comes out on the reefs its one concern in life seems to be to dry itself it pays great at at- attention attention to drying its its wings carefully and as soon as this is accomplished it plunges into the water w again I 0 |