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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
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assist us and was cheap in operation--such as properly organized grass burning. the cutting off from the main bush of large and small sections, and the release of the parasites of the pupa-would be tested in such parts of the belt as were suitable to it. Further suggestions would arise in the course of the experiment and would themselves then be tested.
At the moment I favour two, alternative, areas-(a) the evacuated and largely isolated site of the recent sleeping sickness epidemic near Mwanza, and (b) the isolated Chinyanga fly-belt in the north of the Tabora district. In each district the present Senior Commissioner has shown the most active interest in the problem of the eradication of tsetse. In both areas are many open "mbugas," with cotton soil, the borders of which appear likely often to coincide with the fly's primary centres, and, if either should be pronounced to be fitted for special development as a cotton area, it will be most fortunate, for I regard it as important that, if possible, any area that is selected for our experiment should be capable of special and profitable development under the auspices of the Agricultural Department.
The Mwanza area has the advantages (a) that it is near the Lake and therefore more favourably situated with regard to water transport to a rail-head (Kisumu) for anything it may produce; (b) that it possesses an evacuated population which is probably anxious to get back, and can be re-settled as we desire and decide. But it is possible that it will be some time before it can be safely permitted to return. The Chinyanga area has the advantages (a) that it is only one day by car from the Central Railway at Tabora, (b) that there is an Administrative Station actually on the spot, and (c) that it is also particularly desirable to get rid of this area. which forms a dangerous link between any further cases in the Usukuma area and the great Brachystegia area infested by G. morsitans that covers most of the west of the territory. It may, however, be found, on closer investigation, that some other area will be preferable to either.
Cost. The cost of the examination will be defrayed from the sum I have already at my disposal. The probable cost of the experiment itself and the time that it will take, would emerge from my initial investigation, carried out in collaboration with the Veterinary, Administrative and Agricultural Departments, and I would then furnish an estimate. "I would regard no area as suitable in which very heavy special expenses would have to be incurred, as my whole object is to ascertain whether and demonstrate how tsetse may be eradicated cheaply, and, secondly, it would be my object to select an area, should there he one, the develop- ment of which will in itself be useful to the Territory, and calculated to return a profit on the expenses connected with it.
3. "Survey" Operations.
(i) In relation to the possibility of installing the policy described in the first section. A great deal could be learned in this connexion, and also in relation to the possibilities, local and general, of controlling tsetse, from a careful examination of the conditions obtaining along the margins of the cattle-keeping areas. I would like to have the opportunity of investigating here personally, in collaboration with the Veterinary Department and the local Administrative Officers.
(ii) shall, during my next tour, traverse as much country, generally, as I have time for, in pursuance of my plan of revising the game preserves, and I shall do tsetse work as I go. If, while I am in areas which he regards as worth investiga- ting in relation to human trypanosomiasis, the Principal Medical Officer should be able to let a Medical Officer join me, it is possible that we might be able to collaborate usefully, and that work done thus conjointly will have greater value than work done by either of us alone.
(iii) General survey of tsetses.-Material for collecting, instructions and a request for assistance. were distributed to all districts for use by any officials travelling in the districts, and also to the appropriate Departments.
Some people have helped well, and the fact that, on the whole, the response has been disappointing, will, I hope, be remedied now.
4. Eland Domestication.
I consider that it is very important to attempt this. The eland promises to be an excellent draught and farming animal with good shape, great weight, good meat and some milk, and has done well where tried. It will hardly compete with cattle ou their own ground, for their qualities are the result of long selection, but it should
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be an excellent substitute for cattle for the development of tsetse areas. Even quite old animals are relatively easily caught in numbers and tamed. It is a browser, so that, when farmed on a large scale, it should be an effective bush and tsetse reducer, I am particularly anxious to obtain all facilities for the capture of elands on a sufficient scale to admit of a thorough trial. They would be handed over to the Veterinary Department, whose willingness to co-operate in this connexion I have ascertained.
Cost. It was calculated that the cost of the initial drive and taming would not amount to more than £150, and probably not more than £100. Details that were obtained of methods successfully employed in German times for capturing elands and zebra for menageries showed that the former could be handled and tamed by a system of tethering, without the use of paddocks, and finally driven. This entails the employment for one month of a considerable number of natives, but it is likely that once the animals were handed to the Veterinary Department the latter would require to paddock them. Any requirements in this connexion would be dealt with by the Chief Veterinary Officer, but, for this, and for further consultation and arrangement with him, there is still time, as the first attempt to capture elands would not be made till May of next year.
Requirements.
Suitable Assistant.-I need very greatly and do not yet possess a good assistant from the point of view of research; and I would ask for one such assistant were it not for the present financial stringency and the fact that my Department's most pressing need for reinforcement, when it can be given, lies in another direction.
I would, however, like (if this should be regarded as useful) the training of new investigators who may from time to time be appointed to other Colonies, for the advantage that their assistance may be while they are with me; and, if any of these should be available shortly and the period for which they can stay should be fixed at an entire season, this will help to bridge the gap until I can be allowed an entomologist of my own.
I shall be away from my office during the greater part of my next tour and need greatly, also, and propose to ask for, a clerk, who would accompany me, and, assisting me in various important ways, relieve me of much hampering detail and enable me to increase my personal output of result by 50 per cent,
Summary.
The two main points on which I would propose to work are (1) the examination of the conditions and possibilities existing along the margins of the cattle keeping areas with a view both to obtaining a large amount of useful and suggestive informa- tion and to inaugurating or preparing for the policy I have described in Section 1; and (2) the experiment in the eradication of tsetse from a belt of limited size, referred to in Section 2.
In May, 1924 (May being the best month), an initial attempt to capture elands with the aid of the Wambugwe (of Arusha district) would (3) be made, if all can be arranged and the Chief Veterinary Officer is ready for them, and my remaining proposals (4) come under the heading of "Survey"; though some of this, if collaboration with a Medical Officer can be arranged, might be developed into useful local investigations in relation to human trypanosomiasis.
The cost of all investigations would be defrayed out of the sums already allowed me, an estimate will be submitted for the special experiment in the eradication of tsetse when the area has been selected and studied, it is possible that I may in my next estimates ask for £100 in relation to the capture of the elands, and that the Chief Veterinary Officer may need money for fencing in the same connexion, and, as regards personnel, I suggest that my need for a sufficiently qualified assistant in connexion with the tsetse work might be met for the time being by allowing me the training of new investigators destined for other parts of Africa. addition, to ask for a special clerk.
I propose, in
Pending the preliminary investigations I have referred to. it is impossible to say confidently that the policy and experiment I have suggested will be successful. But they seem most promising and it seems probable also that in no other way will it be possible, cheaply or on any large scale, to hasten the extermination of flies of the morsitans group. It is certain, further, that even if we should have to modify it as we go along, the experiment will give us the most valuable information on the control of the fly, or alternatively, show us finally and usefully that such control