The Luambwa to the Difuna River 



round the villages, consequently food supplies 

 were scarce. 



We were told that the natives were anxious to 

 increase their area of cultivation, but that they were 

 not allowed to do so by the authorities. If the story 

 is true, the reason is probably as follows. 



Forest tribes inclined to agriculture have 

 migratory habits, owing to the fact that the natural 

 fertility of forest lands is quickly exhausted. So 

 soon as the productiveness of the soil shows signs 

 of failing, the natives have to choose between a more 

 careful system of cultivation, entailing, of course, 

 harder work ; or a move, bag and baggage, to a 

 fresh clearing. As the burning of a clearing and the 

 building of a new village are not difficult operations, 

 if left to themselves, they generally choose the 

 latter alternative. 



These periodical migrations, if unchecked, result, 

 of course, in the destruction of vast areas of forest ; 

 and it is consequently very possible that the 

 authorities do, in the interest of forest preservation, 

 put a stop to them. 



We passed on the march deserted villages 

 and tentative clearings ; the latter were usually 

 circular in shape, and all that remained above 

 ground were the charred trunks of trees two or 

 three feet in height. How long it takes for the 

 roots to rot and for the clearings to be ready for 

 tillage we cannot say. 



The rain, which had lasted more or less all night, 

 was falling in a steady Scotch mist-like drizzle 

 when dawn broke on the 20th November, and not 



213 15 



