Reports to the Foreign Office. 149 



Antelope, etc., although multiplying in their blood, but that it is deadly to 

 introduced domesticated animals. Hence, it is supposed, it flourishes in 

 the wild game and is more abundant among them tlian it would be if its 

 presence caused death. I am inclined to believe this theory correct, but it 

 has not been properly tested. 



Before the destruction of Buffalo in the vicinity of herds of domesti- 

 cated cattle is authorised, it ought to be clearly shoivn by experiment and 

 observation of competent medical men that the Buffalo harbours the 

 parasite, or at any rate that it can harbour it without being killed off as 

 are domesticated animals. It would be a matter of small expense, in 

 comparison with the enormous pecuniary interests involved, for the 

 British South Africa Company to employ a medical authority to experi- 

 ment on wild Buffalo, captured and kept in a paddock for the purpose of 

 settling the question. 



And it seems to me that authority to destroy the Buffalo should not be 

 granted to the Company until they have furnished satisfactory scientific 

 evidence of the harbouring of the Nagana parasite by the Buffalo. 



I am. Sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



(Signed) E. Ray Laxkestek. 



FoBEiGN Office, 



15th October, 1901. 



SiE, — With reference to your letter of the 24th June, I am directed 

 by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you for your 

 information the accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's 

 Commissioner in the East Africa Protectorate relative to the connexion 

 between Tsetse-fly and the Buffalo. 



I am. Sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



(Signed) Maetin Gos.selin. 

 Professor E. Eay Lankestee. 



Mombasa, 



&th September, 1901. 



To the Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G., etc., etc. 



My Lord, — In reply to Your Lordship's despatch, No. 259 of 

 July 20th, respecting the connection between the Tsetse-fly and the 

 Buffalo, I have the honour to transmit letters from Messrs. Stordy and 

 MacClellan and Doctor Radford. 



After reading this correspondence and discussing the question with 

 other persons, my own opinion is that where there are Buffaloes, Tsetse-flies 

 are usually (but not always) found, but that the flies also occur in districts 

 where there are no Buffaloes. Hence it would appear that the Buffalo 

 cannot be the only host of the parasite which the Tsetse-fly introduces into 

 the blood of domestic animals with fatal results. 



I have, etc., 



(Signed) C. Eliot. 



