When the fire has done its work, the tract over which it has passed presents a most dismal spectacle, the whole soil being bare and black, and the only sign of former vegetation being an occasional stump of a tree which the flames had not entirely consumed. But, in a very short time, the wonderfully vigorous life of the herbage begins to assert itself, especially if a shower of rain should happen to fall. Delicate green blades show their slender points through the blackened covering, and in a short time the whole tract is covered with a mantle of uniform tender green. Nothing can be more beautiful than the fresh green of the young blades, as they are boldly contrasted with the deep black hue of the ground. The nearest approach to it is the singularly beautiful tint of our hedgerows in early spring--a tint as fleeting as it is lovely. The charred ashes of the burned grass form an admirable top-dressing to the new grass, which springs up with marvellous rapidity, and in a very short time affords pasture to the cattle. The Kaffir is, of course, careful not to burn too much at once; but by selecting different spots, and burning them in regular succession, he is able to give his beloved cows fresh pasturage throughout the year. CHAPTER XV. FOOD. THE STAFF OF LIFE IN KAFFIRLAND -- HOW A DINNER IS COOKED -- BOILING AND GRINDING CORN -- THE KAFFIR MILL, AND MODE OF USING IT -- FAIR DIVISION OF LABOR -- A KAFFIR DINNER-PARTY -- SINGING IN CHORUS -- ACCOUNT OF A KAFFIR MEETING AND WAR-SONG -- HISTORY OF THE WAR-SONG, AND ITS VARIOUS POINTS EXPLAINED -- TCHAKA’s WAR-SONG -- SONG IN HONOR OF PANDA -- HOW PORRIDGE IS EATEN -- VARIOUS SPOONS MADE BY THE NATIVES -- A USEFUL COMBINATION OF SPOON AND SNUFF-BOX -- THE GIRAFFE SPOON -- HOW THE COLORING IS MANAGED -- PECULIAR ANGLE OF THE BOWL AND REASONS FOR IT -- KAFFIR ETIQUETTE IN DINING -- INNATE LOVE OF JUSTICE -- GIGANTIC SPOON -- KAFFIR LADLES -- LOCUSTS EATEN BY KAFFIRS -- THE INSECT IN ITS DIFFERENT STAGES -- THE LOCUST ARMIES AND THEIR NUMBERS -- DESTRUCTIVENESS OF THE INSECT -- DESCRIPTION OF A FLIGHT OF LOCUSTS -- EFFECT OF WIND ON THE LOCUSTS -- HOW THE INSECTS ARE CAUGHT, COOKED, AND STORED -- GENERAL QUALITY OF THE MEAT OBTAINED IN KAFFIRLAND -- JERKED MEAT, AND MODE OF COOKING IT -- THE HUNGER-BELT AND ITS USES -- EATING SHIELD -- CEREMONIES IN EATING BEEF -- VARIOUS DRINKS USED BY THE KAFFIR -- HOW HE DRINKS WATER FROM THE RIVER -- INTOXICATING DRINKS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES -- HOW BEER IS BREWED IN SOUTHERN AFRICA -- MAKING MAIZE INTO MALT -- FERMENTATION, SKIMMING, AND STRAINING -- QUANTITY OF BEER DRUNK BY A KAFFIR -- VESSELS IN WHICH BEER IS CONTAINED -- BEER-BASKETS -- BASKET STORE-HOUSES -- THE KAFFIR’S LOVE FOR HONEY -- HOW HE FINDS THE BEES’ NESTS -- THE HONEY-GUIDE AND THE HONEY-RATEL -- POISONOUS HONEY -- POULTRY AND EGGS -- FORBIDDEN MEATS -- THE KAFFIR AND THE CROCODILE.