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Chap. LVIII. CHARACTER OF GANDO, 195 
of Mas&ma we had to cross another large and irre- 
gular valley or faddama, where, even at this season 
of the year, a large sheet of water was formed, which, 
according to the statement of the natives, was full of 
alligators. 
The towns also exhibited a considerable degree of in- 
dustry in their dyeing -places; and a short distance from 
our halting-place we even passed large hollows about 
two fathoms in depth, and one in particular where 
iron had been dug out. Small marketing stalls in 
some places lined the road, and the town of Masama, 
with its straggling suburbs, presented an animated 
spectacle ; but cattle were greatly wanting, nothing 
but sheep being seen, as all the horned cattle had 
been carried away by the predatory bands of Argungo. 
As we approached the town of Gando, I could not 
help wondering how the people had been led to 
choose this locality as the seat of a large empire, 
commanded as it was by hilly chains all around, in 
the manner shown in the accompanying woodcut, 
while the rising ground would 
have offered a far more suitable 
locality. But the situation of 
the town is on a par with the 
character of its dominion — 
without commanding strength, 
and quite incapable of keeping 
together that large agglomera- 
tion of provinces which have gathered around it* 
However, for a provincial town, the interior is very 
o 2 
