;882.] 
On the Way to the Zambesi. 
37 
of the River Chobe with the Zambesi. True, by crossing right 
over to the Chobe, and following its course to the Zambesi, I 
could go by a road with an abundant supply of water ; but the 
tsetse fly being numerous along the Chobe, my donkeys might 
suffer. I can scarcely realize that I am within six days' walk of 
the Zambesi. 
THE TSETSE FLY. 
It may be well to say something here about this peculiar 
African pest. Many travellers in Africa have written about the 
tsetse fly, and have described its colour and its venom, yet very 
few people at home have any idea of the terrible impediment this 
little fly is to the opening up of the African continent. It appears 
like some peculiar addition to the curse ; for not only have the 
poor sons of Africa to labour for their existence against " thorns 
and briers," but in many parts they are also prevented from 
utiUsing the ox or horse as other nations do. Consequently not 
only is a wheeled vehicle unknown in Central Africa, but also 
beasts of burden; and the way that every branch of ordinary 
domestic work falls upon the shoulders of human beings, makes 
the business of life one of constant labour and toil. 
The tsetse fly is not, to my knowledge, found anywhere south 
of the Mababi flat. Along the southern bank of the Zambesi 
and Chobe rivers, however, it abounds; but when the traveller 
comes upon open, treeless, marshy country the fly disappears. 
For this reason the Barotse are able to keep large herds of cattle 
on the open flats along the Upper Zambesi. The Mashukulumbe 
tribes also, along the Kafaukwi river, have very large herds of 
cattle, of an indigenous but very small breed. But these require 
continual watching to prevent their wandering off in the direction 
of the forest, where the tsetse fly is found. The natives, how- 
ever, are very skilful in taking their herds from place to place 
through the fly-stricken districts, travelling at night through the 
forest, and encamping during the day in the centre of open flats. 
Fortunately, during the cold season the fly does not bite at 
night, and the natives take advantage of this in moving their 
herds. It is also curious to observe that wherever the buffaloes 
and larger antelopes are killed off or chased out the fly 
disappears. Singularly enough, however, although the bite of 
these flies is so fatal to oxen, they are not attracted towards the 
