CO885-(19-20) — Page 294

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

16

2. The reasons which have led me to take up this important question are fully set out in the letter, and it is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon them.

3. You will see that it is proposed that an annual sum of £1,000 should be contributed jointly towards the cost of the scheme by the self-supporting Colories in West Africa, the contribution to be for a period of five years in the first instance, with a view to the question being reconsidered at the end of that period in the light of the experience gained.

4. I consider that the following would be an equitable division of the con tribution among the four Colonies :-

Gambia

Sierra Leone

Gold Coast

Southern Nigeria

£50

100

350

500

and I request that you will inform me by telegram whether, in the event of the Treasury being willing to sanction a contribution of £1,000 a year from Imperial funds, the Government of [the Gambia], [Sierra Leone], [the Gold Coast], [Southern Nigeria] will contribute [£50], [£100], [£350], [£500] a year.

15794

No. 10.

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 11 May, 1909.)

I have, &c..

CREWE.

Treasury Chambers, 10th May, '1909. SIR,

I HAVE laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury Mr. Just's letter of the 17th ultimo,* on the subject of entomological investigation in its relation to the diseases of men and other animals and of plants in the British Colonies and Protectorates in West and East Africa.

In reply I am to request you to inform the Earl of Crewe that my Lords are prepared to sanction an annual contribution for five years of £1,000 per annum towards the various purposes detailed in the letter under reply, on condition that a like amount is forthcoming from the self-supporting Colonies in West Africa and that the portion of the contribution payable this year can be provided out of savings on the Vote for Colonial Services.

I am, &c.,

16145

No. 11.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

G. II. MURRAY.

THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1.45 p.m., 13th May, 1909.) TELEGRAM.

Referring to your despatch of the 23rd of April, No. 366,† Colony ready to vote £500 if Treasury contribute £1,000.-THORBURN.

19834

No. 12.

EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.

SOME NOTES ON THE DIPTEROUS INSECTS MET WITH DURING A JOURNEY THROUGH THE EASTERN AND SOUTH-EASTERN PARTS OF ABYSSINIA AND THE NORTH-EASTERN CORNER OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA.

The highlands of Abyssinia are remarkably free from blood-sucking flies, if the Culicide, Stomoxys, and Hippoboscidæ are excepted.

No. 7.

No. 9.

17

Leaving the rail-head at Dirre Daua, and travelling along the Assobat Road to Addis Abeba, only one species of Muscidae was met with, namely, Stomoxys calcitrans.

These troublesome Diptera are very common in the Hawash Valley and around Mount Fantali, where they attack camels, horses, mules, cattle, and human beings with equal vigour. They invariably attack the ankles of human beings; I have never known them to attack the hands or face.

Here I obtained two specimens of a new species of Tabanus allied to T. taeniola; two others of this same species were also caught at Laga Hardin, within a few houry march.

In the Hawash Valley I also caught a solitary specimen of Pangonia ruppellii, and near Mount Fantali I found Lyperosia minuta very common.

In this region the baggage animals were greatly troubled by Hippobosca maculata.

Of the mosquitoes, there was one species of Stegomyia which has not yet been determined, Pyretophorus costalis, and Grabhamia durbanensis, both the latter from the base of Mount Fantali.

After leaving the valley of the Hawash, we travelled south over the great Arussi Plateau, and here Stomoxys Calcitrans alone was found until the caravan descended into the valley of the River Wabi, one of the affluents of the Webi Shebeleh.

The descent from Seru Abbas to the undulating valley known as Gamoji, through which flows the River Wabi, is about 3,700 feet, and it was in this narrow belt of country between Seru Alba and Mount Abunawas, that a swarm of dipter. ous insects was encountered.

Here were represented one species of Tabanus, namely, Corizoncura distincta, one of Stomoxys, namely, the ubiquitous S. calcitrans, and two species of Haemato- pota, II. mactans and H. pulchrithorax. Corizoneura distincta was very common indeed, and a curious fact about this species was that, on leaving Seru Abbas (8,350 feet), it was not met with until 6,000 feet was reached; after that it was to be seen in hundreds all over Gamoji, and even up the slopes of Mount Abul Kassim to its very summit, 9,000 feet high-Mount Abul Kassim standing in the middle of Gamoji.

Owing to their presence in such troublesome numbers, this country is practic- ally devoid of native villages at this time of the year.

The bush seemed alive with them, and although they came hovering around human beings, I did not hear of anyone being bitten by them, while, on the other hand, the unfortunate camels, ponies, mules, and cattle were so molested by their attentions during the heat of the day that they gave up all idea of grazing. The female alone attacks animals, the male obtaining necessary nourishment from the nectar of the wild flowers which were plentiful there in the month of October, following the rainy season. They start operations about 10 a.m., when the sun is masked high, and only continue to annoy while the sun is shining. If the sun by clouds for even a short interval they slacken their attentions, and cease to bite altogether if the day be cloudy. Animals annoyed by them crowd together for protection, seeking the shade of the smallest bush or tree. This fly, together with other members of the same family, is known to the Somalis by the name of "Dug."

They do not consider its bite dangerous to their stock, but they avoid the stretches of country which it frequents, as the animals, instead of grazing, spend their time keeping the flies off, and in consequence lose flesh rapidly.

The two species of Hæmotopota met with in this belt of country were caught on the banks of the River Daro, a tributary of the River Wabi. One I caught on my arm, and the remainder on the herd of bullocks which accompanied the caravan. I never saw any on the ponies, mules, or camels-they seemed to prefer the cattle.

On leaving Gamoji we ascended to Gurri Dagono (6,800 feet), and travelling in a south-easterly direction encountered no biting flies until Ginir was reached.

Ginir is the great trading centre for Eastern Abyssinia, and here Stomoxys calcitrans abounded, and was very troublesome.

Here we left the Arussi country, and descended to the valley of the River Web, and then followed the river to its junction with the Ganale and the Dawa Rivers.

At Odajida, on the River Dinnik, a tributary of the Web, I found H. mactans on the cattle, but they were scarce.

At Odhun, I found T. Ditaeniatus, a species of Tabanys I had not hitherto met with; two or three settled on me while in my tent, but I hardly think they had any

22756

B