208 IMPORTANCE OF BEIRA RAILWAY, 



infested districts. In German East Africa throuarhout 



o 



the broad zone, which he desci'ibes as the coast area, 

 Dr. Pruen says ' the Tsetse-fly holds undisputed sway.' 

 In British East Africa the fly has been found in an 

 extremely narrow strip of country near Taita, bub so far 

 it has only been caught as a natural history curiosity. 

 Indeed, by diverging either to the right or the left, it 

 can, I think, be avoided, for it is doubtful if it exists on 

 the Sabakhi River, and Mr. Jackson * says that, pro- 

 ceeding from Mombasa via, Taveta to Machako's, ' Through- 

 out the whole of the way both good water and fodder are 

 plentiful ; there is no thick bush, and there are no Tsetse.' 

 Mr. Jackson is a competent authority, who has travelled 

 in this district (Taveta), and it was by him that the 

 Tsetse-fly in the direct route was first discovered and sent 

 home for identification to the British Museum. Thus 

 transport animals could be used throughout East Africa 

 from the coast to the far interior. Even across the strip 

 of country in which it has been found the Arabs and 

 Swahilis have for years driven trains of pack bullocks and 

 donkeys in their slow-moving caravans, and from this it 

 would appear that the fly can hardly be said to exist in 

 sufficient quantities to be a real obstacle, for these people 

 could not afford to risk the loss of even a few animals. 

 The Company have sent up caravans of donkeys, but I 

 greatly doubt if the mortality amongst them was due to 

 Tsetse. Three horses were safely imported to Uganda ; 

 and the tribes breed and rear cattle continuously from 

 the coast to the far interior " (pp. 390-391). 



116. 1893. Theodore Bent. 



The Standard, October 11, 1893. — Interview with a 

 representative of Renter's Agency. 



Importance of the Beira Railway, in that by its aid 

 it is possible to cross the Tsetse belt without difficulty. 

 Numbers of waggons seen rotting on the roadside near 

 Chimioyo, " all the oxen having succumbed to the attacks 

 of the fly." 



117. 1893. V. von Roder. 



Jahrhuch der Hamhurgischen Wissenschaftlichen An- 

 stalten, X. Band, p. 205. 



* Fall Mall Gazette, Feb. 4th, 189B [Cf. 119]. 



