Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/470

 name of Gugsa, takes its rise in the very heart of Ethiopia, and which at first describes a great bend to the north, the east, and south-east of the Tualite highlands, as if it intended ultimately to join the White Nile through its eastern tributary, the Sobat. In fact, this was the hypothesis suggested by M. Antoine d'Abbadie, who fancied that the Gugsa formed a southern pendant to the Blue Nile, which by an analogous bend described in the reverse direction, also joins the White Nile. But although no explorer has yet visited the Halal valleys and gorges through which the Uma, as it is also called in this part of its course, escapes

from the Ethiopian highlands, nevertheless the native reports are unanimous in asserting that after sweeping round the southern base of Mount Wosho, the Gugsa trends eastwards to the Galla country through a fissure in the border range. The Gugsa would therefore appear to be identical with the Dawa or Durka of the riverain pastoral and agricultural populations. It is also known as the Webi, a name which differs little from that of the Abai, or Upper Blue Nile, and which has also the same meaning of "River," or "Running Water." After its junction with several other "Webis," the Ethiopian stream at last takes the direction from north to south, reaching the Indian Ocean some 24 miles to the south of the