CHAPTER NINE 



WINGED DEATH 



THE great and small beasts of Africa, the picturesque 

 and savage tribes that inhabit its vast forests and 

 veldts, appeal to the imagination of mankind. To the 

 average person, contemplating the risks of the dark 

 continent from afar, its peoples and animals constitute 

 a menace, the varied perils of which must be faced by 

 the explorer. Actual experience teaches that, although 

 both primitive man and savage beast are often danger- 

 ous, the real hazard of Africa hes in its winged couriers 

 of death — the untold biUions of mosquitoes and other 

 insects that sing the song of fever during dayhght 

 and darkness. These httle messengers of Satan are 

 more to be feared than the animals that claw and bite 

 or toss and tramp. Their surreptitious attack is far 

 more deadly than an armed array led by a savage chief- 

 tain; more to be feared than spear tlirust or poisoned 

 arrow I 



Modern man, with his high-powered rifle, is able to 

 conquer the most ferocious of beasts; can withstand 

 the attack of spear-throwing and arrow-shooting 

 savages. He can see and hear man and animal and 

 protect himself against them, but the presence of the 

 tsetse fly is only announced by the feel of its bite, and 

 then the damage is irreparable. The bloodthirsty 

 mosquito makes its attack during the hours of sleep 

 and flies away unharmed. Twelve to fourteen days 



187 



