204 TSETSE BROUGHT INTO LESCHUMO VALLEY. 



tract of woodland already referred to. But when, 

 in the year 1885, the missionary Coillard repeatedly 

 drove from the Leschumo to the Zambesi in order to 

 migrate to Sesheke, and when besides in the year 1886 

 the trading-store was transferred from Panda-ma-Tenka 

 to Gazungula, and the spot was thus frequently passed 

 with waggons and draught animals, it was naturally quite 

 possible for the fly to be transported to the Leschumo 

 Valley. I ah-eady expressed this apprehension on this 

 my iirst visit to the Leschumo Valley (February, 1886), 

 and was glad when I was at last able to take my depar- 

 ture and had bi'ought my trek-oxen safely out of the 

 Leschumo Valley to Panda-ma-Tenka again. It was 

 indeed high time that this should be done, for when, after 

 I had accomplished my journey, Messrs. Westbeach and 

 Coillard travelled more frequently to and fro between the 

 Leschumo Valley and the Zambesi, so many of the flies 

 were transported to the former valley, that the insect was 

 able to establish itself there, and moreover the conse- 

 quences of this soon showed themselves. The draught 

 animals belonging to other travellers, who came from the 

 south into the Leschumo Valley, fell sick with the 

 symptoms of Tsetse poison, and perished all but two. 

 This much is certain, that this dangerous insect, which 

 will cause great difficulties in the colonisation of South 

 Africa, recedes and disappears before the advance of 

 civilisation. 



" The Leschumo Valley from the mission station 

 occupied by us as far as its opening into the Zambesi 

 Valley exhibits a slightly mountainous character ; it is 

 only a few hundred metres in width, covered with high 

 grass and wooded like a park, and is bordered on each 

 side by the high laterite ridge. Now at the mouth of the 

 Leschumo Valley the laterite ridge on the left sends a 

 spur towards that on the right, and this wooded spur is 

 said to have constituted the fly -belt that still remained 

 here, while the level, meadow-like, bushy and wooded 

 tract extending from the spurs as far as the Chobe and 

 Zambesi Rivers is said to be free from Tsetse. The latter 

 I have never believed, and I think that those also who 

 maintained it did not believe it to start with, for other- 

 wise, why did Messrs. Westbeach and Coillard, as often 



