OPEN CLEARING AND SECONDGROWTH 53 



Photo by W. B. 



FIG. 15. NEWLY CLEARED JUNGLE 



derings of half -rotted, hollow giants, the huge boles were 

 consumed. 



For a period, utter desolation reigned. Charcoal and 

 grey ash covered everything. No life stirred. Birds had 

 flown, reptiles and insects had made their escape or suc- 

 cumbed. Only the saffron-faced vultures swung past, on 

 the watch for some half-charred creature. Almost at once, 

 however, the marvellous vitality of the tropical vegetation 

 asserted itself. Phoenix-like, from the very heart of the 

 ashes, appeared leaves of strange shape and color. Trees 

 whose tissues seemed wholly turned to charcoal sent forth ad- 

 ventitious shoots, and splintered boughs blossomed from 

 their wounds. Now was the lowest ebb of the jungle's life 

 and the Planter took instant advantage. All the half-burned 

 debris was cleared away and in the wonderfully rich soil 



