KESKARCH IN BUITISH WEST AFRICA. oo'J 



From Uniaisha, ou the left bank of the River Beiiue, to Bagana, about 

 40 miles further up, ou the right bank, the journey was made in native canoes 

 (PI. XIV, fig. 1). The banks of the river are covered for the most part with 

 thick dense bush overhanging the water, but at several places where they are 

 composed entirely of sand, only xerophytic grass is seen. At the time of my 

 visit (December 31st), the river was practically at its lowest level and was 

 studded with numei'ous sand-banks, which bore no vegetation and which would 

 be under water several feet in depth in the wet season (PI. XIT, fig. 1). On 

 these, the natives jjassing up or down the river make temporary encampments, 

 and at one of them we saw a horse which was sufifering badly from trypano- 

 somiasis. A specimen of Tahanus taeniola was obtained feeding on this pony. 



PolLng up-river in canoes being extremely slow, it was found necessary to 

 camp on one of these sand-banks near Amara. A strong harmattan was blowing 

 throughout the day, and in the evening there was a heavy drenching mist, which 

 persisted through the night and until about 8 a.m. In spite of this, however, 

 thousands of small flies, no doubt attracted by the lights, swarmed from the 

 neighbouring banks and helped to make things even more uncomfortable. The 

 next day (January 1st) we arrived at Bagana. G. palpalis was caught half- 

 way between Amara and Amageddi, and also at Amageddi. Crocodiles 

 abound on all the sand-banks, and one hippopotamus was seen near Amageddi. 

 A new species of Tabanus, near T. africaims, was obtained by Dr. Foy at 

 Amageddi and is described above by Mr. E. E. Austen under the name of 

 Tdhiinus necopiniis (]). 279). 



(/f) Bassa Province. 



This province is '.me of the most southerly in Northern Nigeria. It is bounded 

 on the north by the Benue Eiver, on the west by the Niger, on the south by 

 Southern Nigeria, and on the east by the Muri Province. The capital is Ankpa, 

 and from it thei'e are two main routes, one to Bagana on the Ben tie, and the 

 other to Ghebe on the Niger, opposite Lokoja. For my purpose I considered it 

 advisable to make a start at Bagana, proceed to Ankpa, and thence to Ghebe, 

 thus traversing the province from Ankpa towards both rivers. 



The town of Bagana, in addition to its being the Benue port for the province, 

 is also an important trading centre, and consists of about 400 huts. It stands 

 close to the river bank, which is densely covered with thick vegetation. Not 

 far from the town, a small stream enters the Benue, and there G. palpulis and 

 G. tacliinoides swarm in large numbers, while along the banks of the Benue itself 

 the same two species were everywhere found. One case of advanced sleeping- 

 sickness was seen here, and this emphasises the danger of having in the vicinity 

 of the town and of the European factory tJiick bush ^\'hich harbours large 

 numbers of G. palpalis, even in the height of the dry season. Mortality amongst 

 horses is very high ; one agent of the Niger Company lost three from trypano- 

 somasis in one year. No GJosina suhmorsitans were seen. 



Bagana to Anhpai 



The road from Bagana to Abajikoro* passes through several small villages, 

 over three small streams, and one moderately large river, tlie Amara. Up to 



* Shown on the map as Abajikolo. 



