RESEARCH IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA. doo 
From Umaisha, on the left bank of the River Benue, to Bagana, about 
40 miles further up, on the right bank, the journey was made in native canoes 
(Pl. XIV, fig. 1). The banks of the river are covered for the most part with 
thick dense bush overhanging the water, but at several places where they are 
composed entirely of sand, only xerophytic grass is seen. At the time of my 
visit (December 31st), the river was practically at its lowest level and was 
studded with numerous sand-banks, which bore no vegetation and which would 
be under water several feet in depth in the wet season (PI. XII, fig. 1). On 
these, the natives passing up or down the river make temporary encampments, 
and at one of them we saw a horse which was suffering badly from trypano- 
somiasis. A specimen of T'abanus taeniola was obtained feeding on this pony. 
Poling up-river in canoes being extremely slow, it was found necessary to 
camp on one of these sand-banks near Amara. A strong hurmattan was blowing 
throughout the day, and in the evening there was a heavy drenching mist, which 
persisted through the night and until about 8 a.m. In spite of this, however, 
thousands of small flies, no doubt attracted by the lights, swarmed from the 
neighbouring banks and helped to make things even more uncomfortable. The 
next day (January Ist) we arrived dat Bagana. G. palpalis was caught half- 
way between Amara and Amageddi, and also at Amageddi. Crocodiles 
abound on all the sand-banks, and one hippopotamus was seen near Amageddi. 
A new species of Tabanus, near T. africanus, was obtained by Dr. Foy at 
Amageddi and is described above by Mr. HE. I. Austen under the name of 
Tabanus necopinus (p. 279). 
(~) Bassa Province. 
This province is one of the most southerly in Northern Nigeria. It is bounded 
on the north by the Benue River, on the west by the Niger, on the south by 
Southern Nigeria, and on the east by the Muri Province. The capital is Ankpa, 
and from it there are two main routes, one to Bagana on the Benue, and the 
other to Ghebe on the Niger, opposite Lokoja. For my purpose I considered it 
advisable to make a start at Bagana, proceed to Ankpa, and thence to Ghebe, 
thus traversing the province from Ankpa towards both rivers. 
The town of Bagana, in addition to its being the Benue port for the province, 
is also an important trading centre, and consists of about 400 huts. It stands 
close to the river bank, which is densely covered with thick vegetation. Not 
far from the town, a small stream enters the Benue, and there G. palpal/s and 
G, tachinoides swarm in large numbers, while along the banks of the Benue itself 
the same two species were everywhere found. One case of advanced sleeping 
sickness was seen here, and this emphasises the danger of having in the vicinity 
of the town and of the European factory thick bush which harbours large 
numbers of G, palpalis, even in the height of the dry season. Mortality amongst 
horses is very high ; one agent of the Niger Company lost three from trypano- 
somasis In one year. No Glosina submorsitans were seen. 
Bagana to Ankpa, 
The road from Bagana to Abajikoro* passes through several small villages, 
over three small streams, and one moderately large river, the Amara. Up to 
* Shown on the map as Abajikolo, 
