BRITISH EAST AFRICA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1542, 25 April 1916, Page 4

BRITISH EAST AFRICA.

AMONG THE BIG GAME. FEVER-STRICKEN COUNTRY. DOCTOR’S INTERESTING ACCOUNT. Writing early in February from British East Africa, Dr Steuart, a son-in-law of Mr Graves Aickin, of Auckland, and medical officer with forces operating in that area, says :—“After all sorts of adventures we arrived here after one of the most wonderful railway journeys. Mombassa is a muggy furnace and full of fever, and a good place to get out of. . We were only there a couple of days, and then started away through tropical jungle on a steady climb uphill to this plateau. “Near the coast they had plantations of pines, rubber, coffee, etc. The jungle seemed to be a solid creeper entanglement, with flowers of every shade, and birds and butterflies to match —snakes, scorpions, tarantulas on the other side of the ledger. Alter about 200 miles the jungle gradually gave way to scrub,' and then to wide, rolling plains of grass, with belts of bush here and there. This they have made into a huge game reserve, and the animals have become quite used to the train, merely looking on it as another species of harmless animal, and they stand and watch the train sometimes when only 20 yards away. There were zebras, ostriches, wildebeeste, every kind of buck, and gazelle in huge numbers. In fact, there were so many it was practically one huge flock. We did not see any giraffes, but a few days previously, I hear, they saw a lion chasing six giraffes. The Hons are rather a nuisance, as they are continually catching patrol natives on the railway, so that this necessary work is not yejry popular. “Although w.d af.e on the Equator the cold is intense at; night, and I cannot sleep on account of it, even with two blankets. But half-an-hour after the sun rises it would be danger-

ous even to be a couple of minutes without a helmet.” Writing a week later, Dr Sceuart says: “We have just completed a week of camp life at the main base, where a large block of buildings has been commandeered, and round it tents and marquees galore are springing up. Although we are practically on the Equator, the nights are bitterly cold, and even doe skin mosquito boots do not keep the feet warm. “The sun is very dangerous, and only a few minutes of carelessness is enough to place one hors de combat. The dull days usually give the most victims, as the lesion is so severe patients rarely make a complete recovery. ‘‘Several of the officers went out lion-shooting yesterday, but only got antelope of different species. I hope to get a chance before leaving. The lions near the fighting lines are mostly maneaters by this time on account of their unusual opportunities, and when once they get a taste of human fare they will come right into the camp at night for it. Rhinoceros, lions, leopards, etc., are simply teeming, and one has only to go about five miles out to get them. The leopards prowl round the houses in the suburbs at night for stray dogs.

‘‘This must be a most interesting country from the medical point of view, as the following are on tap permanently : Smallpox, sleeping sickness, typhoid, dysentery, leprosy, malaria, relapsing fever, besides a few others 1 had only heard of before. However, with the splendid sanitary conditions and the. able men they have looking after the work, I don’t think there will be much trouble, and probably the sun will account for the bulk of the sick list.”