39 



THE DISTRIBUTION OF TSETSE-FLIES IN THE PROVINCE 

 OF MOZAMBIQUE, EAST AFRICA. 



By C. W. HOWARD, B.A., F.E.S. 



Chief of Entomological Section, Department oj Acjricultuve, Mozambique 

 Province. 



(Map). 



The presence of trypauosomiasis in cattle in tlie Province of Mozambique has 

 made the question of tsetse-flies one of considerable interest and importance. 

 During the past two-and-a-half years the writer has lost no opportunity of 

 gathering information as to the whereabouts of tsetse-belts. It has been very 

 difficult, because of the inaccessibility of most parts of the Province. The 

 northern districts of Nyasa and Mozambique, for example, are practically impene- 

 trable except for a few miles along the coast ; no roads exist, and the natives, 

 while not actively hostile, do not favour the intrusion of the white man. The 

 northern part of the Zambesia district and the Tete district are likewise seldom 

 visited by white men. It was not possible to organise a system of collecting- 

 reports of fly-belts from officials because of the small number of officials in these 

 out-of-the-way regions. The writer has, however, been enabled to visit prac- 

 tically all accessible parts of the Province, and by questioning officials and 

 natives and those who have been through the more inaccessible regions, has 

 gathered considerable data. Specimens of fly have been secured from many of 

 the places recorded. Although the few notes given are by no means complete, 

 it seems best, however, to place them on record now. 



Beginning at the north, I have two well-authenticated reports of tsetse from 

 the Nyasa district. Toward the end of the dry season of 1908, dining August 

 and September, Major Hamilton, the game warden of the Eastern Transvaal, 

 and the British Consul at Lourenco Marques, made a journey across this 

 district, on foot. The road followed was from the seaport Ibo, southward to 

 Port Amelia, thence westward along the Pulu river. Continuing westward 

 about midway between the sea coast and Lake Nyasa, they passed through 

 a strip of country between the Msalu and Lujenda rivers. The route then bent 

 slightly south-west along the latter river, finally striking westward to Lake 

 Nyasa near Fort Maguire. 



A small quantity of fly was found along the Pulu river west of Port Amelia. 

 It was along both sides of the river, and in very dense bush. But what was 

 most surjjrising was the absence of game. Major Hamilton, who is a well-known 

 hunter, informed me that he saw only one or two tracks of small game, no big 

 game, and scarcely any feathered game. Between the Msalu and Lujenda rivers 

 was a stretch of about 90 miles >\ith thick bush and very little water. A large 

 quantity of fly was found throughout the whole extent of this comitry. Here 



