112
Enclosure in No. 167.
The TRAVELLING COMMISSIONER, Upper River Province, to ACTING COLONIAL
(M.P. No. 1118/1907.)
SECRETARY.
I have attached a form which, if carefully filled in annually by each Commis- sioner, might be of some assistance to His Excellency in forming an opinion as to the mortality amongst cattle, &c., in the Protectorate.
As regards the Upper River the mortality through epidemic diseases has been practically nil this year. I am continually making inquiries on this subject, and, as I spend most of my spare time shooting, see a great deal of the cattle.
The usual percentage of beasts have died from various causes; a considerable number, especially of horses, have probably died of tsetse fly disease. The natives are beginning to have a shrewd suspicion that there is some truth in the explanation of the disease which Captain Todd tried so hard to make them understand and which I also have explained at different times.
With regard to anthrax, I have on many occasions explained to the chiefs and headmen the principal points contained in Captain Todd's first report, as to the cause and spreading of the disease, and simple, common-sense methods of avoiding it. The process is a slow one, but in time I believe the natives will put more faith in the advice they receive on these matters.
I would respectfully suggest that failure to report deaths amongst cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, &c., from epidemic outbreaks be made a punishable offence. The preventative measures taken to avoid overcrowding by herd of cattle from French territory have been most successful in the Upper River. Scarcely any cows from over the frontier grazed in English territory this year.
With regard to the attached form I have left spaces for other epidemic diseases which undoubtedly occur sometimes, more especially redwater, which the natives recognise, also quarter-ill, which they seemed to recognise when Captain Todd described the post-mortem appearance (after skinning).
July 9, 1907.
CATTLE REPORT, Upper RIVER PROVINCE, 1907.
W. B. S.
District
Mortality
amongst
Cattle.
Number of Cattle.
Anthrax.
Sandu ... 3,100
Wull
**
4,800
T
1
Totals.
Number of Donkeys.||
Anthrax.
Mortality amongst
Donkeys.
Totals.
Number of Horses.
Anthrax.
amonget
Horses.
Mortality
1
-
!
240
1
150
10
60
1
30
80
320
Kantor 1,100
Falladu 5,500
Best
Gamblers 150
Fullada 5,500
West.
1
Totala
19,850 50
Bathurst,
1
10
10
5
220
Short general Report.
1
12
1
Totals.
1
1
3
3
1
3
The mortality amongst cattle through epidemic diseases has been vary slight this year, one out- break of anthrax occurring in Falladu East during the wet season. This outbreak was of short duration. Herds were moved away from the infected area. The rains were unusually late in breaking and cattle were somewhat poor in condition when I left the district; otherwise the past year has been an exceptionally good one for cattle. During the past six weeks frequent reports have reached me of cattle in French territory dying in large numbers. The natives here have all been expecting a serious epidemio but I am glad to say it has not oc- curred as yet. Owing to failure of oorn orops a very bad year for horses, probably not less than 10 per cent. of horses have died through hard work and bad feeding. The worst stamp of horse has suffered.
A great many more donkeys have died through sore backs and overwork than through epi- demic diseases.
W. B. STANLEY,
Travelling Commissioner.
1
1,000
500
80
5 1,600
30 1,000
July 9, 1907.
10
1
20
900
34,000
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
गय
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Reference :-
C.O. 885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
2
3
PIC.O. 885
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.