190 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



as the next water at Bamboiyu, but when we got there 

 the water was foul, milk unobtainable, and Mr Talbot 

 worse ; so we pushed on again to the Bahr Alienya, 

 where he obtained the necessary rest. Here we were 

 within reach of Fort Lamy, and indeed were able to 

 get there for New Year's Day. Mr Talbot was now 

 convalescent, and our friends gave us so cordial a 

 greeting that we felt it was like coming home. 



The zakis were pleased to see us too, and played 

 with us, and a few days slipped by very happily before 

 w^e proceeded on our way to Lake Chad. We did not 

 care to tell Captain Facon or Captain Lucas our ideas 

 about the dates, but none the less we harboured them, 

 and put the dates carefully by in a tin till we should 

 get home and we might have them analysed. This is 

 the result — 



November 21, 1911. 



Dear Miss MacLeod, — There is no doubt that there 

 is some poisonous substance in the dates, but I cannot 

 identify this as any poison with which I am familiar. 



The dates may have become poisonous from decom- 

 position by fermentic changes. 



On the other hand, I am quite prepared to admit 

 that there are native African poisons which cannot be 

 identified by any ordinary chemical tests, but only by 

 the physiological harmful effects which I have found. — 

 I am, yours sincerely, W. H. Willcox. 



Report. 



On August 28, 1911, I received from Miss Olive 

 MacLeod by registered Parcels Post a tin box contain- 

 ing in grease-proof paper some dried dates. 



