FIREARMS AND FISHHOOKS. 201 
tolerated in the absence of regular shoes and 
boots; they are as pervious to water as brown 
paper, and but scant protection against prickles 
and sharp stones. ‘ Skin-shoes’ do very well for 
redskins, whose feet are as hard and tough as 
a saddle-flap; but take advice, and never forget 
a good supply of strong ‘lace-ups’ and a limp 
accommodating ‘ wide-awake.’ 
Firearms may be left entirely to the choice of 
the traveller: every man has his fancy weapon, 
and is ready at all times to do battle in support 
of its merits. To my taste a strong No. 12 
double gun, smooth bore and to load at the 
muzzle, is by far the most useful gun for general 
purposes. Were I to enter into the respective 
merits of muzzle-loaders versus breech-loaders, 
the smooth-bore versus the rifle, I should only 
repeat what has been time after time discussed 
by the most able and experienced sportsmen. 
The choice of firearms I leave to my readers’ 
tastes and inclinations. 
Fishhooks of different sizes, gut, silk, and a 
piece of cobbler’s wax, are absolute essentials; if 
you are angler sufficient to tie your own flies, 
fur and feathers are always obtainable. It saves 
a host of bother, to quietly sit down by the river- 
bank or camp-fire, and manufacture any insect 
