Annual Grass Fires. 65 



making a line or more across it, or by putting over it 

 some freshly broken small branches, leaves, or grass. In 

 this way it is possible for the natives to follow people 

 in front, and it is seldom that they take the wrong path. 

 In very wild country sometimes the track is invisible, and it 

 is then followed by watching the trees and bushes for "blaze" 

 marks ; and, should these be old and partly obliterated, it is 

 sometimes no easy matter to get along quickly, as frequent 

 stops will require to be made for careful examination. 

 Occasionally, the grass is tied in knots, but these marks 

 soon go in the annual grass fires which sweep through the 

 country every year. 



The time for burning the grass varies in different 

 localities, and it depends on the duration of the rains. 

 The usual time for it is July, August, and September, and 

 it is a grand sight, especially at night, to see a great fire 

 sweeping along with a strong wind. 



Many small mammals, reptiles, and insects are killed in 

 these conflagrations, and the natives' main reason for 

 burning the grass is to get the small field rats and mice 

 that are killed, as I have mentioned before. 



In parts of the country that are dry the trees and bushes 

 get scorched and burnt, and this keeps them small and 

 stunted. A dead tree, or a dead branch on a sound tree, 

 will sometimes get alight and smoulder for months, and 

 elephants often burn themselves by rubbing on them. 



Great numbers of young antelopes and other animals must 

 also be killed, especially those which have just been born 

 and are helpless. I have heard of young elephants being 

 killed, also, and animals like land tortoises and snakes 

 must be killed in thousands. 



Returning to the subject of native paths, it will be 

 noticed how these twist and curve, and yet, on the whole, 

 keep a good direction from point to point. 



A native will never worry about removing an obstruction 

 such as a small boulder or fallen tree, and he will invariably 

 go round it. In the dry season, when many of the smaller 

 rivers and streams are dry, short cuts are made by walking 



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