CO885-(19-20) — Page 475

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

awimmilu TLC.O. 885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

2

River Prah. The small streams to the north-west of the town are tributaries of the River Ofin, while those to the south-east are tributaries of the River Prah. As this place was made my headquarters, both town and surrounding country were very thoroughly examined for fly.

No fly region was discovered in the town'or in its immediate vicinity, though single specimens of G. palpalis were taken on several occasions, both upon the slopes of the Hospital Hill facing the railway station, and upon the railway platform.

There were grounds for the conjecture that these isolated specimens were strangers, and more extended observations revealed the probable mechanism of their introduction. It was this:-During the passage of a railway train through a fly region, some of the insects enter the carriages or the cattle trucks. Here they seek the floor, or hide beneath the seats, and thence attack the legs of the passengers. The flies are thus carried away from their native place, and, should they be un- molested, they will usually remain in the carriage until the passengers attacked alight, when they follow their victim. I have several times observed this to occur, and, on one occasion, being the only occupant of the carriage, I observed G. palpalis accompany me from Dunkwa to Obuasi, a distance of about 20 miles, although the carriage windows were open, and no efforts were made to impede an escape. On alighting at Obuasi the fly, accompanied me, and was caught upon my leg as I walked along the platform. It is, then, evident that, though flies entering railway carriages may chance to escape at any point along the route, they are most likely to be liberated at the stations, for at the stations the passengers alight; and, further, that, should flies so introduced find the locality to which they had been carried favourable, they would breed, and the locality become a fly region. By a fly region is meant an area where Glossince can habitually be found by careful search.

At Obnasi, wood is used as fuel by the mines, and very extensive felling of timber has, therefore, taken place. This removal of the tall trees may perhaps have rendered the place unfavourable for fly. Whatever the cause, it is not until the edge of the clearing is reached that the fly region is entered at a distance of 2 to 3 miles outside the town. In Obasi and its vicinity observations extending wer 7 months were made, but at other points upon the line of rail, a few hours between the arrival and the departure of the trains was all that was available for

search.

G. palpalis was found at the following points upon the railroad:-Sekondi- 6 miles, 16 miles, 444 miles, 81 miles, 92 miles, 99 miles, 101 miles, 103 miles, 115 miles, 118 and 119 and 120 miles, 124 miles, 126 miles, 127 and 128 miles. 137 miles, 1484 miles, 156 miles, Kumasi.

G. fusca (Walker).

G. fusca at:-Sekondi, 101 miles, 127 miles, 138 miles, 1481⁄2 miles.

It should be stated that the railroad is now commonly used as a thoroughfare by the natives who carry loads, but not by those who drive cattle; such cattle are driven down the Cape Coast road, &c. There is considerable transit of cattle over the railroad, but such cattle are carried in open cattle trucks.

Recommendation.

I consider that the infested condition of the railroad and railway carriages demands attention, and that an effort should be made to minimize the evil.

The following measures should be tried:-

(1) Felling all tall trees and clearing the bush in the vicinity of the stations. (2) Prohibition of unauthorized persons on the platform; only persons

possessing tickets being admitted.

(3) A minimizing of the number of persons permitted to reside in the station

buildings.

(4) The removal of native huts from the vicinity of the stations.

(5) The protection of the carriage windows, and of the cattle trucks with coarse wire gauze. The ordinary mosquito gauze would probably impede ventilation to an unnecessary extent. A mesh sufficiently small to exclude the 'fly would be enough and would be more com- fortable and less costly than the mosquito mesh.

3

Kumasi. This town, the capital of Ashanti, situated at the end of the Cape Coast road, is the terminus of the railroad. As it is the seat of Government, a large garrison of native troops is maintained. The town has an elevation of about 858 feet above sea-level, but its site is surrounded by forest and swampy areas. The chief roads from north, south, east, and west converge upon the town, which yearly becomes a more important centre of trade and traffic.

This area is drained by the Rivers Ofin and Adra, and their tributaries. Here, in the month of October (the end of the rains), a careful search for Glossing was made, with the following results :-

1. Two species of Glossing were found:-

(a) G. palpalis, males and females.

(b) G. pallicera, males only. (Female G. pallicera caught 19th August, 1907.)

2.

G. palpalis (R. Desv).

G. palpalis was found at the following places:-

(a) At Bantama; upon the main road, under the trees in the yard at the rear of the medical quarters, and on the veranda of the European hospital, and in the village.

•

L

(b) The following main roads were examined for a distance of about 3 miles beyond Kumasi :—

(1) The Cape Coast Road.-G. palpalis was first observed after having passed the cotton garden, about a mile outside the town. The road nearer Kumasi is broad and open, a good deal of timber having been felled and large clearings made. (2) The Mampon Road.-G. palpalis was found upon the roadway at a point

5 minutes' walk beyond the Hausa Zongo; along the road; on the cross-road to Oduru; on the roadway beyond this; and in the bordering bush.

(3) Patase Road.-G. palpalis was numerous on roadway beyond the carrier

lines, and also found on path leading to polo ground.

(4) Sunyani Road: G. palpalis was numerous on roadway.

(5) Saltpond Road.-G. palpalis found on roadway.

(6) Ojesu Road.-G. palpalis found on roadway.

(7) N'Kawi Road.-G. palpalis was numerous on roadway. This road turns

to the left after the village of Bantama has been traversed.

(8) Kintampo Road.-I failed to find fly on the occasion of the single visit I paid this road. I believe that a more extended search would be successful.

Upon all these roads G. palpalis was found associated with Stomoxys inornata (Grünberg).

G. pallicera (Bignt).

(1) N'Kawi Road.-G. pallicera was found in a narrow bush path, bordered by short bushes, but free from tall trees. This bush path, which is a couple of feet above the level of the main road, is found upon the right-hand side of the road as one goes west, nearly a mile beyond the ruined village

This fly appeared strictly localized. I found it only on this narrow path. It did not associate with G. palpalis upon this path, nor was it to be found associated with G. palpalis upon the main road into which the path opens.

The insects were found sunning themselves upon the leaves of the tall plants bordering the path, or playing in sunshine about the stump of a fallen palm, (Elaiis Guineensis). I caught a number of males, but-though I spent some hours there, and returned to the path on a second occasion, when I again caught males, I failed to catch a female on either occasion. Though I sat among the insects for some hours no attack was made upon me by them.

(2) The Kumasi Polo Ground.—A specimen stated to have been caught upon

a horse on the polo ground was sent me 19th August, 1907, by Dr. Rice, S.M.O. I failed to find this species on the polo ground in October, 1907. The specimen sent me 19th August, 1907, was a female."

Sunyani (Ashanti). On the 26th June, 1907, I received from Dr. Wade, Medical Officer, some specimens of G. palpalis and one very damaged insect which was, I believe, a G. pallicera.

Dr. Wade subsequently told me that these insects had been caught near Sun- yani and between Sunyani and Sikassiko, but he could not place the two species. I could not determine the sex of the G. pallicera as the genital organs had been lost (eaten by ants?).

34670

A 2