FOREST MAGIC 



quest for gold, native workers swarm to the ropes to 

 urge it on its way. 



The treasure of the Forest is ever in danger from the 

 native farmer, and when he clears for successive cultiva- 

 tion, by matchet and fire, the equilibrium is destroyed. 

 The silence of the forest is broken by the fierce crackling 

 of the burning bush, and above the sound of weird in- 

 cantations it rises into a roar as of an artillery bombard- 

 ment, the shock of which, once heard, is unforgettable. 



In the Rain Forests the Bush will not burn unless first 

 cut by man. After two months' drying, when ignited 

 it burns fiercely, on account of its richness in combus- 

 tible oils and resins. 



These fires so destructive to the Forest, are regarded 

 as a necessary evil, if evil at all, by the primitive farmer, 

 and are a striking example of the appalling waste of na- 

 ture's resources due to the lack of foresight which still 

 exists in their world today. Without the fire there would 

 be no farm, for the native farmer has not yet discovered 

 the use of natural or artificial fertilizers. He only com- 

 prehends that the virgin forest will provide the richest 

 soil in which to grow his yams. 



In the forest region this crop is of more importance 

 to him than the preservation of beautiful forest areas. 

 To this cause may be attributed the spreading desicca- 

 tion of Africa, and the vanishing resources of food 

 supply in worked out areas. I have calculated that the 

 cost of production of a white yam to the native in terms 

 of value for timber destroyed for its cultivation is far 



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