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In Vol. II, page 380, of the Bulletin of the S.S. Bureau, Dr. Kinghorn described a visit to the Banda district and confirms what we found, or perhaps I should say we confirm what he found. Unfortunately, the report does not give the exact date of the visit. I give the paragraph in full.

"In a further Report by Dr. Kinghorn is related an account of a visit paid to the Banda district, where tsetse flies were said to be unknown. This country consists of thin, scrubby bush and extensive clearings in which the villages are situate. In the neighbourhood of the streams, especially the Volta and its tributaries, the bush was denser. Kinghorn saw no tsetse flies on the small streams, but considers they might appear in the rains. In the dry season there is scarcity of water. From native evidence Kinghorn believes that Sleeping Sickness is not common in this district. Glossina palpalis was caught on the Tain and Black Volta into which the Tain flows. The fly extended at least thirty miles up the Black Volta; only three villages were found on its banks, Glossina "tachinoides was always found with Glossina palpalis; the former was the more common. Glossina tachinoides was much more active in dull, overcast weather, and appeared earlier than Glossina palpalis. Kinghorn thinks that both these species are to be found on the Volta from its mouth to the French Border. Glossina fusca, morsitans and longipalpis were also caught. Of 1,734 natives examined in the Banda country four were found infected; two of these had never left their villages. Both lived near the Black Volta. Kinghorn considers that this district would be suitable for the establishment of a segregation camp. The difficulty is the scarceness of water, and the probable unwillingness of natives from other districts to enter it."

Dr. A. E. Horn in his report (S.S.B. No. 2, page 223) also states that the flies which were prevalent in August are greatly diminished in September. He was working on the Volta near its mouth. I visited the same area in February this year, and although much time was spent on the river in canoes and also bathing I only encountered palpalis twice during the week-end.

Kinghorn elsewhere states (B.S.S.B., Vol. III, page 135) "that at Sunyani the fly disappeared during the Harmattan." He states that though much clearing has been done here Glossina palpalis is “carried up by the help of the wind" principally to the Medical Officer's quarters. Kinghorn has never seen the fly in great numbers in any part of the forest; two or three might be caught in a stretch of ten to fifteen miles.

Dr. J. J. Simpson's report on the Gold Coast Colony only states where the fly was obtained, but somehow one is led to the conclusion the flies could not have been numerous, as he always uses the phrase "Specimens of were caught here."

Dr. Macfie's report on tsetse in the Accra area also shows that they are very scanty.

I think enough has been written to show that although the districts where tsetse are got are constant, the intensity of the fly is very inconstant, and varies probably directly with the condition of the country, which again depends on the climatic conditions.

To my mind it seems possible that the conditions of the bush are far from suitable to the increased extension of the "fly."

Along the Volta the bush overhangs the river considerably. This means there are no places for pupation and little or no room for movement.

G. palpalis usually keeps near the ground. It prefers rocky conditions, sand. or substance akin to that for its larval deposition. Tachinoides likes shade and water with plenty of space to move in, i.e., they like high shade.

Considerable stretches of the Volta would therefore be unsuitable to both flies. Again, when the river rises a large number of pups must be drowned. The feeling I had in the matter was that in this particular area the tsetse just held its own against natural conditions, and no more.

Although this report is not dealing with Sleeping Sickness I should like to add that I entirely agree with Kinghorn and Horn that the native has a high immunity to trypanosomes. It can be seen in Lumley village near Free Town, Ilorin Province, Nigeria, and I understand a yearly return still goes to Todd from the Gambia describing the state of the patients he diagnosed as cases of Sleeping Sickness twenty years ago.

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In brief we found that along the Volta between Kintampo and Banda in the early rains tsetse flies are scanty, (2) the native recognizes the fly, (3) the native is ignorant of a disease called Sleeping Sickness, (4) cattle and horses can thrive, and do so.

SUGGESTIONS.

The fairly obvious fact appears that, although a lot of exceedingly useful and able work has been done on tsetse fly and Sleeping Sickness in the Gold Coast, it has all been somewhat piecemeal and not consecutive, and that so far there has not been obtained a big and comprehensive idea of how all the species of tsetse flies progress during a whole year over all the Colony.

It seems, therefore, advisable that, before a camp on the lines of what we had at Sherifuri, Northern Nigeria, can be set up, a complete survey of the whole of the Gold Coast should be attempted and during the conditions of both dry and wet seasons. This will mean at least a year or two years' work. When that has been done then a suitable site or sites will have been found when large numbers of fly can always be obtained, because for useful working at least 100 flies a day should be caught by four good fly boys in two to three hours. Of course, it may not be possible to obtain such good conditions. If not, then it means that the work will be slower or more sites will be required for camps.

The cost for the first year's trekking should not be very great. Two officers could be seconded from our staff for this duty.

Considering they would be travelling in out-of-the-way bush they would require considerable kit and stores. This would mean the use of at least fifty to sixty carriers. Tents would be required, as rest houses are not always handy.

There is no doubt but the work would be fairly arduous, and certainly there would be considerable lack of comforts.

If seconded from our staff then there are no extra salaries, but I think each should have some compensation, and so far the first year's survey the extra expense might be as follows:-

.

Salaries (being seconded)

Personal allowance £100 each

Commuted bush and travelling allowance £20 per

month

Fifty carriers at Is. 3d. a day each for one year Equipment-tents and the like

Say, £2,000.

nil

£200 0 0

£480 0 0 £1,050 12 6 £200 0 0

£1,930 12 6

In some districts carriers may be cheaper, but at Kintampo the wage is 18. 3d. a day.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

We met with kindness everywhere. We must specially mention and thank Mr. Mackenzie, P.W.D. Engineer at Bunso.

Dr. Wade and Dr. and Mrs. Oakley, Coomassie.

Mr. Mangin and Mr. Puckeridge, D.C., Ejura.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, D.C., Kintampo.

Dr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe, M.O., Kintampo.

We also found the natives we dealt with very friendly and, should a camp be ever set up, e.g., at Bwe, I am sure they would become quite interested in the doings of the white men.

Anyway, they had no objection to my pulling teeth for them on two occasions, an operation that does not always make one love the operator.

In concluding I would suggest that Dr. Ingram, who has an excellent know- ledge of the Kintampo and Bole districts, be consulted as to his views.

APPENDIX.

Since completing the above report I have been to Seccondee investigating the outbreak of Plague.

Dr. Pirie, Mr. Abbott and myself travelled by car there. During the journey of 172 miles no tsetse fly was encountered.

It is possible that the large amount of motor traffic on this road has frightened the game, and consequently there is little food supply, because the country on this