The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

884 SOUTH AXD EAST AFRICA.uume of Gugsa, takes its rise in the very heart of Ethiopia, and which at firstdescribes a great bend to the north, the east, and south-east of the Kaffa highlands,as if it intended ultimately to join the White Nile through its easterntributary, the Sobat. In fact, this was the h3TJothesi8 suggested by M. Antoined'Abbadie, who fancied that the Gugsa formed a southern pendant to the BlueNile, which by an analogous bend described in the reverse direction, also joinsthe White Nile. But although no explorer has j'et visited the upland valleys andgorges through which the Uma, as itis also called in this part of its course, escapesFig. 118.—Ras Hapin.Scale 1 : 650,000.LaatoFGreenfrom the Ethiopian highlands, nevertheless the native reports are unanimous inasserting that after sweeping round the southern base of Mount "Wosho, the Gugsatrends eastwards to the Galla country through a fissure in the border range. TheGugsa would therefore appear to be identical with the Dawa or Durka of theriverain pastoral and agricultural populations. It is also known as the Webi, aname which differs little from that of the Abai, or Upper Blue Nile, and whichhas also the same meaning of " Eiver," or " Running Water." After its junctionwith several other " Webis," the Ethiopian stream at last takes the direction fromnorth to south, reaching the Indian Ocean some 24 miles to the south of the