146 TSETSE NOETH-WEST OF GONDOKORO. 



Tsetse-fly at a deserted Tcraal called Augur, on a low 

 eminence in a clearing in dense forest in which the ground 

 was slightly inundated and covered with rank grass as 

 hi<yh as a horseman's shoulders, — near Adael, in the 

 country of the Bhol Tribe, north-ivest of GondoJcoro. — 

 " Atchwack tells me that the kraal is now, during the 

 rainy season, untenable from the presence of the destructive 

 Tsetse-fly, here called the mau. I had as yet seen none, 

 and hoped our horses would escape, but Atchwack said 

 to-morrow's march might prove troublesome, as the fly 

 was known to exist in the bush in advance of us. The 

 chief, a more intelligent man than ordinary, states that 

 the sting of the mau, if in the head or spine of a bullock, 

 causes speedy death, but, if in the body, the animal might 

 linger a week or ten days ; but death is inevitable unless 

 a part of the root of a tree called Tshol goote is administered 

 internally, and rubbed well into the hide ; the animal 

 might then recover. The fly occupies a certain bush, well 

 known to the negroes ; at no great distance cattle may 

 graze with impunity ; but if they enter the limits occupied 

 by the fly, the consequences are fatal to numbers of the 

 herd, if not to the whole" (pp. 220-221). 



[The approximate geographical position of the above 

 locality is 30° 8' E. Long., 6° 35' N. Lat., west of the 

 Nile, and north-west of Gondokoro.] 



The march was continued on the following day : — " Off 

 at seven a.m., and in ten minutes were following a narrow 

 track through a continuation of yesterday's thick forest. 



" Two halts of a few moments' duration, when an eager 

 look-out was kept for the Tsetse or mau, several specimens 

 of which were netted ; they were precisely similar to the 

 description and sketch given by Dr. Livingstone, but 

 perhaps a trifle smaller. When marching not a fly was 

 seen "(p. 222). 



38. 1870. St. Vincent Erskine. 



The Natnl Mercury, May 31, 1870 :— " The meeting of 

 members of the Natural History Association of Natal, 

 held last evening, 30th May, 1870, was most successful. 

 . . . Mr. St. Vincent Erskine's paper on the Tsetse-fly 

 was very interesting, and combated the popular idea that 

 the bite of the Tsetse-fly was destructive to the life of 



