HC Deb 03 December 1867 vol 190 cc540-2
LORD JOHN HAY

asked the Secretary of State for War, What preparations have been made for the artificial supply of fresh water at and in the neighbourhood of the point of disembarcation of the Abyssinian Expedition; and if he will grant a Return of the amount of condensing power for the supply of fresh water in each vessel intended to be employed in the Expedition, including that of the condensing vessel to be stationed at Annesley Bay?

SIR STAFFOED NORTHCOTE

It has been thought desirable that I should answer this Question, inasmuch as the arrangements of the expedition have been left to the Governor of Bombay. We have no such detailed information in this country as would enable us to answer the specific Question put by the noble Lord; but I can give some information which may, perhaps, meet the point he raises. The House is aware that the course taken has been to send forward an advance party, under the command of Colonel Merewether, with a small committee of officers, who were to select a proper landing-place; and they were instructed, among other things, to fix upon a place where a proper supply of water could be obtained. They have selected Annesley Bay as the landing-place, where was at the moment a moderate supply of water, but not such as was likely to be sufficient for a large force, should it land there. They therefore had recourse for the time to the condensing apparatus of the Euphrates, which was the vessel in Annesley Bay. A vessel, which left England in June last, took to Aden two condensing machines, one able to supply 4,000 and the other 2,000 gallons of water a day. The Government of Bombay were told that they might send on one of those, and a third condenser is about to be despatched from this country. With regard to the supply of water, I will read one or two extracts from the Report of the committee of officers appointed to select a landing-place. They say— There is a supply of excellent fresh water within a mile of the shore. This is found in a branch of the Huddas, and is renewed by occasional descents of that river, especially during this season of the year, from October to March. The villagers of Zoula draw from it all the year round; pits are sunk two to three feet below the surface of the ground, and the water freely flows in. Water also is reported to be procurable, by digging, all along the Huddas. At sixteen miles from the shore there is a running stream, from a spring, yielding a plentiful supply of very good water; this is perennial. Colonel Merewether in his Report, received November 21, says— On inquiry about water supply, it was stated that a running stream existed about twelve miles to the westward of Zoula.…. At a little under sixteen miles from the sea-shore, four hours' marching, we came on the water—a clear, running stream, as pure as could be wished. There were two channels; we went to the head of one and found it a natural spring, arising from the side of a hill, and running quickly down into the torrent's bed. The Arkeeko chief and people of the country who were with us said the flow was perennial, never known to dry even in the hottest weather; and, judging from the way it was running, the supply would be inexhaustible. This is a most important point, for it gives within easy access of the shore, at a place not far distant, a spot where the cattle might be sent on arrival from Egypt, India, or elsewhere. Cisterns can quickly be made in which the water could be caught, and animals drink from them without difficulty or mudding the water. The information at present in possession of the Government is very meagre, we only know that the Committee have decided on selecting this landing-place, having reference to the supply of water among other considerations. But by the next mail, which will probably arrive before the House adjourns, we shall receive much fuller details on this subject, and I will communicate them to the House. With regard to the Return mentioned by the noble Lord, it shall be produced if he will move for it.