344 JAS. J. SIMPSON — ENTOMOLOGICAL 



important in the province. No tsetse were seen at Ghebe, but this is not sur- 

 prising, as the bush is very thin. It is highly probable that they occur during 

 wet season. 



The foregoing notes on my journey through the Province of Bassa, embracing 

 as it did about 140 miles, and covering the two main routes from Ankpa, the 

 capital, to Bagana on the Benue in the north, and westward to Ghebe on the 

 Niger, may serve to indicate the general types of country which occur in this 

 province. The rivers and streams between Bagana and Ankpa run into the 

 Benue system, while those between Ankpa and Ghebe drain directly into the 

 Nigei". 



The only blood-sucking flies caught or seen were Glossina •palpalis, G. 

 tachinoides, G. lonc/ipalpis and Chrysops silacea. C. silacea was found at Oda, 

 Lafia and Aiyangba ; G. tachinoides at Bagana and Dekina ; G, longipaJpis 

 only at Auru ; while Glossina palpalis occurred at practically every stream or 

 pool examined, where there was a dense growth of shady bush {vide Map). 

 With regard to G. longiimlpis, it may be noted that this species had previously 

 been recorded from Akwacha by Dr. G. J. Pirie, who found them "in the denser 

 bush patches along the small watercourses." He added " trypanosomiasis both 

 of animals (horses and dogs) and of man exists at Akwacha, especially in the 

 rainy season, from May to October." It is somewhat strange that he found this 

 species " rather numerous," but caught no G. palpalis, whereas at the time of 

 my visit G. palpalis was much more abundant, and also much more widely 

 distributed. 



In such a type of country as occurs in Bassa Province it is very difBcult to 

 indicate how the chances of attack from tsetse may be abolished or even 

 diminished without involving enormous labour and expense. At the same time 

 villages such as Egga, which are situated in the centre of a dense kurimi ought 

 certainly to be removed into more open country ; the fords on the main routes 

 from Bagana and Ghebe might with great advantage be cleared of the 

 surrounding bush ; and the wells and streams where water is drawn for the 

 villages ought to be cleared in a similar manner. Several of the rest-camps are 

 too close to the neighbouring kurimis, and, when being rebuilt, should be moved 

 further away. As these improvements could be carried out by the inhabitants 

 of the province through the various headmen with very little trouble, some 

 attempt should be made to have them effected. The European settlement at 

 Ankpa is much too near the Mabolo kurimi and, even if for no other reason, 

 ought to be removed to a site on higher ground, and separated from the 

 siu'rounding bush by at least 200 yards of clearing. 



Mention has been made of the enormous amount of trypanosomiasis which 

 occurs, and the impossibility of keeping horses almost anywhere in this j^rovince. 

 When it is remembered that the only three species of Glossina which have been 

 fourd are palpalis, tachinoides, and longipalpis, and that the last-named is confined, 

 so far as one can judge, to the Akwacha region, and that the only locality where 

 tachinoides has been found away from the river Benue is Dekina, the qviestion 

 naturally arises : — What is the carrier '? The evidence seems to point to 

 Glossina palpalis, but even were this proved to be the case, the problem would 

 not end there. The further question would arise : — Where does the infection 



