338 .JAS. .T. SIMPSON — ENTOMOLOGICAL 



and is separated from it by a dense kiirimi, more than a mile in breadth. In 

 tliis knrimi there are numerous pools of considerable size. At the height of the 

 rains, it is more than probable that these connect with the Niger. 



The toAvn is moderately large and is an important market-place for the 

 surrounding district. Five hundred people were examined for sleeping sickness, 

 but no case was found. Cattle are bred there, and seem to thrive quite well, but 

 horses have been brought at difiei'ent times from Keffi and Abuja, and, according 

 to reports by the natives, all have died witluD a few weeks of their arrival. 

 Seven horses died thus during one season. The interpreter, kindly lent to me 

 by Major Blakeney, the Resident at Keffi, informed me that on one occasion 

 Major Blakeney, while on trek, brought two horses to Kotonkerifi both of which 

 died of trypanosomiasis on their return to KetK, although they were to all 

 appearance perfectly sound before setting out. The natives there, as elsewhere, 

 attribute this to the drinking water. The country around Kotonkerifi is covered 

 with dense bush and abundant undergrowth. This is intersected by numerous 

 backwaters from the Niger, and at the time of my visit (December), there was a 

 large number of pools isolated by the falling river. Glossinu palpalis and 

 G. tuchinoidcs were everywhere abundant. 



The road from Kotonkerifi to Umaisha, which are both in Nassarawa Province, 

 passes through numerous towns, none of which arc indicated on the small scale 

 map, and as most of them are not shown on the larger scale map, it has been 

 considered advisable to include them here so as to make the individual records 

 more i^recise. Their relative position may be gauged by the Glossina-loiyAYitins, 

 shown, in order, on the accompanying map. 



The country between Kotonkerifi and Ikpariki is covered with high grass and 

 thin low bush, and is eminently suitable for G. suhmorsitans. Between Ikpariki 

 and Ibefu, there is a large amovmt of cultivated land, and the bush is therefore 

 considerably reduced in amount. After Ibefu the road is very stony and hilly 

 owing to a rocky outcrop, but towards Denjiri it again becomes level, and every- 

 where there are extensive farms of yams and guinea-corn. At Denjiri, both 

 G. palpalis and G. tachinoides were caught. 



According to the natives, a short time after horses are brought to this region, 

 they show marked oedema of the legs, belly and scrotum, micturate in small 

 quantities, lose their appetite, and finally die in five to eight days. This is 

 clearly indicative of trypanosomiasis, but although G. submordtans was specially 

 sought for in likely places, none was seen. 



From Denjiri to Ogusu the road passes through numerous kurimis, between 

 which are extensive farms. About half-way is the town of Utu and here 

 G. palpalis occurs. Ogusu is simply a collection of scattered farm hamlets ; 

 G. tachinoides was the only blood-sucking insect obtained in this region. 



The country from Ogusu to Umaisha is fairly open and extensively farmed. 

 In and around the town of Umaisha, which is practically on the banks of 

 the River Benue, both G. palpalis and G. tachinoides were obtained. The 

 siriki (or local chief) complained bitterly of the loss of horses from a disease 

 which he called " chiwon aguna " (or swelling sickness), and which is almost 

 certainly trypanosomiasis, but no G. sidimorsita.ns were seen. As elsewhei'e, 

 this disease is attributed to the drinking-water. 



