342 TSETSE FLIES 



the fact that, in spite of the most careful and 

 systematic search, with the exception of one or 

 two well-defined areas, no trace of the Glossina 

 palpalis, the hitherto supposed sole means of the 

 distribution of sleeping sickness, could be found 

 throughout the length and breadth, of the land. 

 The common cattle tsetse, Glossina morsitans, 

 was very generally present in North-Eastern 

 Rhodesia, it is true, but so far that insect had not 

 aroused suspicion. 



My readers will probably be vainly asking 

 themselves how all this affects the well-being of 

 wild game in Zambezia ; but I would crave 

 their patience yet a little, for we are coming to 

 that. 



About three years ago, some person, I fancy 

 of European origin, who had been found suffering 

 from sleeping sickness in a portion of North- 

 Eastern Rhodesia which had already gained a 

 somewhat sinister reputation by reason of the 

 relatively large number of cases discovered there, 

 was sent home to England and examined at one 

 of the great establishments which devote special 

 attention to bacteriological problems. Here it 

 was found that the trypanosome or parasite 

 contained in his blood exhibited marked differ- 

 ences from those hitherto identified as the result 

 of the bite of Glossina palpalis, the new germ 

 being at once named after its country of origin, 

 Trypanosoma rhodesiense. 



About this time, the planters of the Nyasa- 

 land Protectorate became alarmed at the fre- 

 quency with which cases of sleeping sickness 



