Since the 27th of July the rain had been incessant; the weather was still cold and damp. In the evening of the 1st of August, the almamy sent a man to tell me, that there was an opportunity for going to Jenné, and that if I liked to take advantage of it, he would furnish me with a guide to Timé, whence the caravan would start. I had a wound on my left foot which I was doctoring with lint, and could not heal; but I preferred suffering on the road, painful as my wound was, to remaining any longer in a place where there would soon be a horrible scarcity. I sent word to the chief that I wished to set off as early as possible. On the 2d of August, at six in the morning, the almamy sent me some rice and a piece of a sheep which had been killed the day before, which I shared with my companions. About eight o’clock Arafanba came to me, and we went together to take leave of the chief. He called me to his store-house, and opened a little door, so low that a man must stoop double to enter; one of his women then drew out a bracelet wrapped in rag, of which he made me a present; it was silver and worth about three francs; I had brought him a pretty present of coloured muslin, paper, and strings of beads. Arafanba, my former guide, told him that I had very little merchandise with me and was sorry I could not offer him a more suitable present; he smiled and accepted it with pleasure. The old man again desired me not to forget him when I should be among the venerable sheiks of Mecca; I promised that I would not and took my leave. A minute or two afterwards he came to the hut where I lodged to return my visit; he was on horseback, and had on his head a straw hat large enough to serve for an umbrella. He was going to his ourondé to look after his slaves; he told me he was sorry he had not thought in time of having a grigri made by the hand of an Arab; he wished me a good journey and left me. About ten o’clock, my new guide came to tell me it was time to set off; it had been raining all the morning and the rain was not yet over, but we did not stop for it. Before I proceed, however, I must give some account of the fine country which I am leaving.