Chap. LIX. LEAVING GANDO— KA'MBASA. 205 
comfortable hut lying outside the walls of Kambasa, 
which, by a separate wall, is divided into two dis- 
tinct quarters. 
This town lies on the north side of a large swamp, 
which fills the bottom of the faddama, and affords 
excellent grounds for the cultivation of rice. The 
governor treated me hospitably, sending me every- 
thing that was wanted for a good African dinner, 
from a sheep down to a bit of salt and a few cakes of 
dodowa; and I made him a suitable present in return. 
During the night we suffered greatly from mos- 
quitoes, giving us a fair -idea of what we were to ex- 
pect on our journey through these swampy valleys. 
Another storm again delayed our depar- Sund 
ture this morning; and being now in the June 5th. 
middle of the rainy season, I had a fair sample of 
what I should have to endure on my long journey to 
Timbuktu. In consequence of the rain, it was again 
eleven o'clock before we could start. The principal 
road leads along the northern bank of the faddama, 
by way of Zoro, the residence of Chafo a son of Kha- 
lilu; but it was deemed too unsafe in the present 
unsettled state of the country, — that very town of 
Zoro, although situated on the north side of the fad- 
dama, at present being only accessible from the 
south ; and it was decided, therefore, to cross the 
swamp close to Kambasa, in order that it might 
afford us protection, in our further progress through 
this unsafe region, against any sudden attack from 
the rebels in the northern part of the province. 
