100 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Chap. LV 
not less than from 400 to 500 camels, but without 
bringing me even a single line, either from my friends 
in Europe or even from those in Africa. Having like- 
wise arranged with f Ali el A'geren the Mejebri who 
had accompanied me from Kiikawa, buying from him 
what little merchandise he had, and taking him into 
my service for nine dollars a month, I prepared every- 
thing for my journey ; and I was extremely anxious 
to be gone, as the rainy season was fast approaching. 
On the 26th of February evident signs were ob- 
served of the approach of the wet season, — the whole 
southern quarter of the heavens being thickly over- 
cast with clouds, while the air also was extremely 
damp, just as after a shower. Mounting on horseback, 
in order to observe better these forerunners of the 
" damana," I clearly distinguished that it was raining 
in the direction of Zdriya and Niipe ; and even in our 
immediate neighbourhood a few drops fell. In the 
course of the evening the freshness and coolness of the 
air was most delicious, just as is the case after a fall 
of rain ; and summer lightning was flashing through 
the southern sky. 
The ghaladima also was very anxious to be gone ; 
but the army of the Goberawa being ready to start 
on an expedition, on a grand scale, against the terri- 
tory of the Fulbe, we could not leave the place before 
we knew exactly what direction the hostile army 
would take. They having at length set out on their 
foray, on the 7th of March, we began to watch their 
movements very anxiously, each of these two powers, 
