Reports to the Foreign Office. 153 



Majesty's Commissioner in the British Central Africa Protectorate 

 respecting the supposed connexion between Tsetse-fly and I>uffalo. 



I am, etc, 



Clemext Ll. Hill. 



To The Dikector, 



Natural Historv Museum. 



The Eesidbncy, Zomba, 



British Central Africa Protectorate, 

 mth Septeinber, 1901. 



To His Majesty's J^kincipal Seceetary of State for Foreign 



Affairs. 

 My Lord, — With reference to your Lordship's despatches Nos. 

 141 and 155, enclosing copies of correspondence on the subject of the 

 connection between the existence of Tsetse-fly and the preservation of 

 Buffalo, I have the honour to append a few notes which give my own 

 experience during the past fourteen years in Africa on this subject. 



(1) Tsetse-fly would appear to depend upon wild game for their 

 existence, as I have never found Tsetse in any locality where game was 

 totally non-existent. 



(2) Tsetse does not appear to be in any way specially dependent upon 

 buffalo. On the plains at the north end of Nyassa, before rinderpest 

 made its appearance, there were vast herds of Buffalo, but no Tsetse. 

 The natives at the north end at that time owned large quantities of cattle 

 which could be seen grazing in close proximity to Buffalo. When 

 rinderpest came it killed practically all the cattle and all the Buffalo. 



In other districts of British Central Africa Tsetse are found in large 

 quantities where Buffalo, at the present date, at any rate, do not exist. 



(3) Tsetse are not found (in British Central Africa) in open plains, 

 although such plains may have large quantities of game on them, and 

 in spite of the fact that at the edges of the plains, where forest abounds 

 Tsetse are found. 



It would appear, therefore, that what regulates the presence of Tsetse- 

 fly is the description of the country almost as much as the abundance or 

 scarcity of game. 



I have, etc., 



(Signed) Alfred Sharpe, 

 His Majesty's Commissioner and Consul- General. 



Foreign Office, 



21th November, 1901. 

 To The Director, Natural History Museum. 



Sir,— With reference to my letter of the 20th instant, I am directed 

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

 information a copy of a despatch which has been received from the acting 

 British Commissioner in Uganda, respecting the supposed connection 

 between Tsetse-fly and Buffalo. 



I am, etc., 



Clement Ll. Hill. 



