﻿RESEARCH IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA. 157 



Politically, the Western Province is divided into a number of districts, and 

 for the present purpose it might be well to discuss each of these in turn, always 

 having regard to the various hydrographic systems. From west to east are the 

 Rivers Yewa and Ogim, which drain the districts of Badagri, Meko, Abeokuta, 

 part of Ibadan, Oyo and Shaki ; and these, along with Lagos, form an almost 

 complete unit. In the east are the various small rivers already mentioned, 

 draining the districts of Ikorodu, Epe, Ijebbu Ode, Ondo, Ilesha, the remainder 

 of Ibadan and Oshogbo ; and these again form a more or less distinct topo- 

 graphical unit. The Lagos Railway in its lower portion passes through the first- 

 named area, while beyond Ibadan it enters the second, and continues within it 

 until it reaches Northern Nigeria at OfFa. 



(l) Badagri. 



This is one of the most westerly districts in the Province, and is bounded on 

 the west by French Dahomey. The only river of any importance in the district 

 is the Yewa, which is navigable for a short distance for small launches, and to Egoa 

 for moderate-sized canoes. A large amount of produce is brought down this 

 river to the town of Badagri, where a large market is held, and there is considerable 

 intercourse with the natives in French Dahomey. The coastal region is low, flat 

 and swampy, and lies on the Badagri lagoon, which is separated from the ocean 

 by a long narrow peninsula. The town of Badagri is reached by steam-launch 

 along the lagoon from Lagos. Inland from the coast area there is a broad forest 

 belt which extends for a distance of 40-50 miles. Beyond this region the 

 country becomes more open and park-like in character, and there is a succession 

 of small hills and valleys, which extend into the Meko district in the north. 

 The whole trend of the country is towards a slight increase in elevation 

 northwards. 



In the sub-district of Idi-Oroko, the chief town of which is Okeodan, the 

 country is low and flat, and during the dry season water is very scarce in this 

 part. Guinea-worm is very prevalent all over the district, but more especially in 

 Idi-Oroko. 



The chief industries of the natives are agriculture and fishing ; sheep and 

 goats are plentiful, but very few cattle and no horses are kept. 



Elephant and bush-cow are said to occur on the Yewa River, but with the 

 exception of a few small antelope, and these not in any abundance, there is little 

 game in the district. The natives, especially in the north, are great hunters, and 

 as there are a few guns in every village, the absence of game of all sorts is not 

 surprising, 



During my visit to this district at the height of the dry season, in February, 

 1910, the number of blood-sucking flies was at its minimum. At Badagri the 

 only species seen were Mansonioides uniformis and Tabanus par, while the former 

 species was also obtained at Ere, and Myzomyia costalis at Agilete. From the 

 sheep and dogs at several places numerous ticks were obtained : — Amblyomma 

 variegatum on dogs at Ere and Agilete, Haemaphysalis leachi and Rhipicephalus 

 sanguineus from sheep at Ibesha. At the latter place also Ctenocephalus canis 

 was found on dogs, and several DermatopkiJus -penetrans were taken from the 



