﻿174 JAS. J. SIMPSON — ENTOMOLOGICAL 



south-west portion lies in the delta of the Niger, the central part is drained by 

 several small rivers, of which the largest is the Opobo (known in the north as 

 the Imo), while the eastern part is in the Cross River drainage area. The names 

 of the principal rivers from west to east are, the Dodo, Pennington, Nun (mouth 

 of the Niger), Brass, Sombreiro, New Calabar, Bonny, Opobo, Kwa Ibo, Cross, 

 Calabar and Great Kwa Rivers. 



The Calabar and the Great Kwa are tributaries of the Cross River and enter 

 it near its mouth, while the only tributary of any great size further north is the 

 Ewayon in the Aro Chuku District, about 150 miles from the town of Calabar. 



For administrative purposes the Province is divided into twenty-one districts, 

 and these we will proceed to consider in six more or less geographical groups. 



(l) Brass, Degema, Bonny and Opobo. 



These four districts all lie within the eastern portion of the delta of the Niger, 

 and commercially are very important. Large trading factories are situated 

 throughout the various creeks and are reckoned the most unhealthy in Southern 

 Nigeria, the percentage of malarial cases in this region being by far the highest 

 for any part of the Colony. Within recent years enormous improvements have 

 been made, more especially on the Government " beaches," but the state of 

 clearing and general measures for the reduction of the number of mosquitos at 

 most of the trading stations leaves much to be desired. 



I was enabled to travel by launch for over a fortnight, visiting the various 

 stations in this region, and Dr. Collett, who was stationed at Opobo during my 

 visit, but who was afterwards transferred to Degema, has also collected and sent 

 to England a large number of specimens of the various blood-sucking insects at 

 these places. 



The following short descriptions of the districts and the lists of insects found 

 at the different parts will serve to show how prolific this region is in potential 

 disease-carriers. 



In the Brass District, the country is chiefly swamp, intersected by a regular 

 network of creeks, and communication is effected between the various villages by 

 launch or canoe. It is estimated that there are not over twenty miles of path in 

 the district, and even these tracks are fit for use only during the dry season. 

 Monkeys, hippopotami and crocodiles are almost the only large animals in this 

 region, though elephant are occasionally seen. Cattle, sheep and goats are 

 extremely rare. 



The town of Akassa was, until recently > very important, but the marine engineer- 

 ing works which formerly existed there have now been removed to Forcados. 

 Akassa is on the sea-coast and is accessible by ocean-going steamers. 



Tabanus secedens, T. socialis and T. thoracinus are all common, while the 

 mosquitos Myzomyia costalis and Stegomyiafasciata constitute a perfect pest. On 

 the launch and even in the houses it was almost impossible to sit in the evening 

 without having recourse to a mosquito-proof room. 



The town of Brass is situated a short distance up one of the creeks, and here 

 also the above-named insects were abundant, while Glpssina palpalis was an 

 additional scourge. 



