18 
INTllODUCn’lON 
The 
entomological 
work 
Work on 
anthropology 
The Carnegie 
Trust and the 
Laboratories 
Dr. Pirrie's 
Expedition 
2. liuctfriologiual—emleiivunring to isolate I'roiii guiii-liearing brandies bacteria which 
will produce gum when cultivated in artifiidal media, and working out the morphology and 
cultural characteristics of any bacteria isolated, in order to compare them with gum-prodncing 
bacteria already described. The intlueuce of bacterial action on the ipiality of gum has also 
been cousidered, as have other factors which may he operative in gum lu’oduction, such as 
enzyme action and oxidation. 
A glance at the contents of this vidume will show that Jlr. King, our Kutomologist, has 
had i)lentv to do. Indeed, although I knew that his services were urgently required, 1 had 
scarcely realised the full scope and variety of the work which awaited him. It is not too 
much to say that tlie native has come to look on Mr. King as a frieml and adviser. His 
work has earned for him the name of the “ Father of Flies,” and it is interesting to see the 
Hudau field-workers crowding round him and listening eagerly to his explanations 
and instructions. The pity of it is that these latter are so rarely followed. Their fatalism 
and a natural indolence and improvidence often prevent the natives, unless supervised, from 
taking those active measures so necessary in cases ot insect infestation in crops. 1 toubtless, 
however, they will some day he snliiciently educated to profit fully from Mr. King’s 
investigations, and, in any case, the latter is doing a valuahle and philanthropic work 
concerning which he gives full and interesting details, while the purely scientific side of 
economic enfomology has certainly not been neglected. l\Ir. King’s labours have also a direct 
bearing on Tropical Jleiliciue, as witness his researches on mosquitoes and the hionomics of 
the Nile Tiihinudd'. In this connection one has again to record valuable aid kindly rendered 
bv iMr. Theoliald and IMr. Austen, to both of whom the lahoratories are deeply indebted. 
The former once again furnishes a sjiecial paper on Sudanese for which he has 
at length been able to draw up a symqdic table that is certain to aid greatly in their 
identification. 
Yet another subject which has received attention is Anthro})ology. It may he 
remembered that in the Second Report mention was made of the fact that, at the suggestion 
of the Director of Education, the Trustees of the Carnegie Research Fund had been 
approached and had agreed to recognise these hiboratories as a working jilace for their 
Research Fellows. ()ne had hoped to secure the services of a chemist and bacteriologist, 
but, despite the kind help of Dr. JIcCormick, I)r. Dohbie of the Royal Scottish Bluseum, 
Dr. Lauder of the East of Scotland Agricultural College, Professor Muir of (Ilasgow, and 
others, one has to acknowledge failure. The men were simply not to be had. I had then to 
ask myself if there was any other hranch of science which could be usefully exploited. 
Naturally one thought of Anthropology, for the more that is known concerning the natives of 
the Sudan the more enlightened and correct is the administration of their affairs likely to be, 
and this apj>lies very especially to the less civilised races in the south. Thanks largely 
to Sir William Turner and Professor Cunningham, of Edinburgh, the laboratories were 
fortunate enough to secure the services of 1 )r. A. jMac'l'ier Pirrie, who held a siiecial degree 
in Anthropology and was particularly well versed in [diysical work. Dr. Pirrie, though 
labouring under the disadvantage of not knowing the country, made what, under the 
circumstances, was a somewhat remarkahle journey into the almost unknown Ihiruu country 
whi(di lies between the White Nile and Abyssinia. Ajiart from anthropological investigations 
on the Ruruns, I)r. Pirrie. was able to furnish the (Tovernment with some useful intelligence, 
and to jirepari! maps ami ])hins of considerabhi value. Dr. Pirrie also carried on work in 
Khartoum, at Rcuk on the White Nile, at ilelut, amongst the Nners at Darboi, amongst 
