Hiittti to Mini'TH and Proxjv'ctors. 225 



much cheaper to purchase a boat for from £25 to £35, capable of 

 carrying from three to four tons of cargo. A boat of these dimensions 

 will require a crew of from twelve to sixteen men to propel her. The 

 lal)Ourers engaged for the expedition will form part of this crew, but it 

 is essential to employ five or six trained boat hands who are experienced 

 in river work. 



The steersman and the bowman of the boat are paid at the rate of 

 from £7 to £8 and of from £5 to =£6 respectively per month, whilst 

 the boat hands are paid at the rate of 2s per day. All members of 

 the boat's crew have to be fed by the expedition. 



The best packages for carrying and keeping clothes are iron or 

 steel trunks, termed locally " cannisters, " and these can be obtained at 

 any of the stores in Geoi'getown at cheap rates. Leather trunks and 

 bags are useless, for they are soon affected by the damp and fall to 

 pieces, and are also very subject to destruction by ants. 



Woollen clothing, both outer and under, is the best for wear, as 

 when the body is warmly clad a person is less liable to chills, with 

 their concomitant result — fever. The stores in Georgetown offer a 

 large selection of such clothing. 



A cotton hammock is necessary for sleeping in, and one can be 

 bought for from 20s. to 25s., whilst a good warm blanket should also 

 be used, as it is a wise precaution to keep a warm and even temper- 

 ature round the body during the nights and the early mornings, which 

 often feel very chilly. A properly constructed mosquito netting for 

 use with the hammock is essential if the traveller is desirous of 

 avoiding any chance of contracting malarial fever. 



Soft felt hats are the most comfortable head-gear for wear in the 

 interior and strong yet light shooting-boots are best for {protecting the 

 feet. A strong cotton umbrella will be found serviceable. 



Whilst travelling, and until a working camp has been established 

 and regular work started, the only food available will consist of tinned 

 or canned meat and fish, salt beef, pork and fish, bread or biscuits, 

 and vegetables, although birds and animals may be shot, or fish caught 

 now and then to vary the somewhat monotonous rounds of these foods. 

 After a permanent camp has been established poultry can be raised, 

 as they thrive well in the bush, and several kinds of tropical vege- 

 tables, such as cassava, eddoes, yams, sweet potatoes, plantains, etc., 

 can be grown. Lime trees and many varieties of capsicums grow veiy 

 well indeed in the interior of the colony, and their fruits form xevy 

 welcome additions to the dietary of the camp. An Indian huntsman 

 should be employed to obtain supplies of fresh meat and game from 

 the animals and birds which are found in the forest. 



AccommodatioiJ can be obtained at hotels in Bartica, Rockstone, 

 Mt. Everard and Arakaka ; but beyond these places, in travelling up 

 and down the rivers, a camp has to be made each night b}- spreading 

 a large waterproof sheet or tarpaulin, under which the hammocks are 

 slung to poles driven into the ground. The boat-hands are usually 

 very expert at selecting sites for and erecting these camps. They make 

 them easily and quickly ; and the camps are very comfortable when it 



