RESEARCH IN SIERRA LEONE. 161 



varies according to the number of years which have elapsed after the original 

 clearing. The trees never attain any great height, but the undergrowth becomes 

 denser and denser. The country is very populous, so that very little virgin 

 forest now remains, in fact in this region it is almost entirely restricted to the 

 fringing forests along the banks of the water-courses. 



No blood-sucking insects were seen on this three days' journey, but it is more 

 than probable that many exist at the various streams in the rainy season. 



Kambia is a large and important town standing on the Great Skarsies River. 

 Large sea-going canoes can ascend to this point at high tide even in the dry 

 season, and this to a great extent determines its position. It is situated at the 

 limit of tidal influence, and although the river bed consists of a mud flat when 

 the tide is out in the dry season, it is several feet deep and about 200 yards wide 

 at high water. A rocky outcrop which crosses the river acts as a dam, beyond 

 which it is dangerous for large canoes to ascend. The banks are covered with 

 heavy dense vegetation, and Glossina palpalis is to be found here all the year 

 round. 



Between Kambia and Yana the road is never far distant from the river and 

 passes through several large towns, the most important of which are Bassia, 

 Kukuna and Konta. The country is undulating and gradually becomes more 

 hilly towards the north. The nature of the vegetation varies in the different 

 places according to the density of the population and the amount of annual 

 cultivation. On the whole it may be described as open bush country, but every- 

 where along the banks of the rivers and streams there is the usual heavy 

 densely-shaded bush with high overhanging trees. The only blood-sucking 

 insects seen during this trek were Glossina palpalis and Tabanus laverani. The 

 former was found at Konta and Yana, the latter at Ganya. Ticks, however, 

 were not uncommon ; Haemaphy salis leachi was obtained from a dog, and 

 Amblyomma variegatum and Boophilus australis were found in a cattle compound 

 at Konta. 



Konta is an important town situated on the left bank of the Great Skarsies. 

 A custom's clerk is stationed here, as it is on one of the main trade routes 

 between French Guinea and Sierra Leone, the river at this part forming the 

 boundary between these two countries. According to this clerk, who was 

 stationed there during my visit, tsetse are extremely troublesome in Konta during 

 the rains, but diminish in number in the dry season, although they never entirely 

 disappear. 



A few cattle are to be seen at nearly every town on this road. They are not very 

 large, are chiefly of a dun colour, have long horns, and no hump (Plate XVIII, 

 fig. 1). The majority of them were in excellent condition and they seem to thrive 

 well. Horses too are not uncommon — a remarkable occurrence for Sierra Leone, 

 in most parts of which horses are practically unknown. Their presence here is 

 due to the proximity of this part to French Guinea, and all have been brought 

 at one time or another from that country. 



The question of animal transport in Sierra Leone has occupied the attention 

 of the Government for some time, and a number of donkeys were taken from the 

 Gambia to Sierra Leone and sent to Port Lokko — perhaps the most unfortunate 



