CHAPTER IX 



NOTES ON THE TSE-TSE FLY 



Connection between buffaloes and tse-tse flies — Sir Alfred Sharpe's 

 views — Buffaloes and tse-tse flies both once abundant in the 

 valley of the Limpopo and many other districts south of the 

 Zambesi, in which both have now become extinct — Permanence 

 of all kinds of game other than buffaloes in districts from which 

 the tse-tse fly has disappeared — Experience of Mr. Percy Reid 

 — Sudden increase of tse-tse flies between Leshuma and 

 Kazungula during 1888 — Disappearance of the tse-tse fly from 

 the country to the north of Lake N'gami after the extermination 

 of the buffalo — History of the country between the Gwai and 

 Daka rivers — And of the country between the Chobi and the 

 Zambesi — Climatic and other conditions necessary to the exist- 

 ence of the tse-tse fly — Never found at a high altitude above 

 the sea — Nor on open plains or in large reed beds — " Fly " 

 areas usually but not always well defined — Tse-tse flies most 

 numerous in hot weather — Bite of the tse-tse fly fatal to all 

 domestic animals, except native goats and perhaps pigs — 

 Donkeys more resistant to tse-tse fly poison than horses or 

 cattle — Tse-tse flies active on warm nights — Effect of tse-tse 

 fly bites on human beings. 



As it is impossible for any one who had much 

 experience with buffaloes in the interior of South 

 Africa in the days when these animals were 

 excessively plentiful not to have a very lively 

 remembrance also of the tse-tse flies by which 

 they were almost invariably accompanied, I think 

 a few words concerning these insects will not be 

 out of place. My remarks must, however, be 

 understood to apply not to all tse-tse flies — for 

 there are several distinct species of the genus 



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