THE TSETSE-FLY 



had been formed at Fungozambo. I was to go on with them 

 to Ngatana, at once and by forced marches, select the best site 

 I could find for a camp beside the river, build a " boma," or thorn 

 stockade, 50 yards square, and open up communications with 

 Harris's force. My party would be lightly loaded, but it would 

 be followed in two days by another under Count Lovatelli, who 

 would bring me a tent, food, and medical stores. 



At ten o'clock I was back in Witu, ready to march for 

 Ngatana ; but the men from Fungozambo were not there. 

 I therefore went to sleep, to be ready, if necessary, for a night 

 march. Thompson woke me about mid-day to complain of 

 the behaviour of our men, who were seriously disturbing the 

 peace of the town. A stormy interview between Tichborne 

 and myself on one side, and the men on the other, seemed to 

 quiet matters, and they promised to behave better. 



At two o'clock next morning I was roused by a messenger 

 from the coast, who brought word that more deaths had 

 occurred and that our chief was ill. Dr. Rae was earnestly 

 requested to return. The doctor was himself suffering from 

 fever, but so urgent was the summons that he went. I was 

 concerned about him, and accompanied him the first seven 

 miles. On the way I made an annoying discovery. There 

 were no preparations for firing the belt of forest at Pangani 

 through which the road passes, and which is the haunt of the 

 tsetse-fly {Glossina inorsitans, Westw.) On the journey through 

 it on our way up, I had found this dreaded fly. To expose our 

 camels to an attack from it was to risk the whole safety of 

 the caravan ; I had therefore sent back a note to say that before 

 the baggage animals entered this belt of forest, fires ought to be 

 lighted in it and the animals driven through the smoke. This is 

 the method commonly used to protect animals when passing 

 through a fly-haunted district. I found out afterwards that 

 the Galla in the Tana valley know all the fly-infested patches, 

 and always adopt this precaution when driving their cattle 

 through them. 



As Dr. Rae seemed better, he went on with two men and 

 I stopped there to prepare the fires, sending on a note urging 

 that these should be lighted half an hour before the camels were 

 allowed to enter the forest. The rest of the day was spent in 

 building up stacks of wood and dead leaves ; these were 



