Chap. LXXXII. EAINS — DEPARTUKE FOR GANDO. 329 
wood with some degree of security. On the whole, 
there was nothing of interest to record, except the 
remarkable quantity of rain which fell during my 
stay, and which was said to have fallen before my 
arrival, confirming the impression already previously 
received in my mind, that Gando was one of those 
places most abundantly supplied with the watery 
element ; and it was highly interesting for me to 
learn from the people on this occasion, that, as a 
general rule, they reckon upon ninety-two rainy days 
annually. I am quite sure that the average rain-fall 
in this place is certainly not less than sixty inches ; 
but it is probably more than eighty, and perhaps even 
one hundred. 
I was heartily glad when I left this town, Wednesday, 
where I had experienced a great deal of ^"g^st23rd. 
trouble, although I could not but acknowledge, that 
if I had not succeeded in some degree in securing the 
friendship of the ruling men in this place, it would 
not have fallen to my lot to have reached even the 
banks of the Niger. 
It is to be hoped that Khalilu will soon be succeeded 
by a more energetic prince, who will restore peace 
and security to the extensive dominions of which 
Gando is the capital. Under such circumstances, 
this town, on account of its mercantile connections 
with the provinces along the Niger, could hardly fail 
to become a place of the greatest interest. 
A great many sweet potatoes, or dankali, were culti- 
vated in the district through which I passed, although 
