56 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



If he can locate these points they give him north and south respectively. 



South is found by means of the Southern Cross. 



When the cross is standing upright its longer diagonal can be taken as south. 

 At other times, if this longer diagonal is produced three and a half times its own 

 length a spot near the South Pole is reached. 



That is to say, from the top star y draw a line through the bottom star a, and 

 produce it another three and a half times the length of y ". 



The pole star gives north, but will generally be invisible from the countries we 

 deal with. When the two pointers of the Great Bear are vertically above one 

 another they can be taken as north, while at other times the position of north can be 

 judged from the direction in which they are pointing. 



A few other stars which may be useful are here mentioned with their declinations. 

 The declination of a star, unlike that of the sun, remains constant. 



In the tropics their declinations will so nearly correspond with their places of 

 rising and setting that they may be taken as such. 



It will be found that, even if one is provided with a good night compass, it will be 

 simpler and quicker to march by the stars. 



17° S. 



20° S. 



26° S. 



53° S. 



We have given those bright stars which are as near as possible to points of the 

 compass. For the positions of other less Important stars the Nautical Almanac may 

 be resorted to. 



If one generally marches by sun or stars the true bearings of landmarks and 

 places should be remembered, and when a compass is used must be corrected for 

 variation. 



In a country where watches so often go wrong and there is no means of having 

 them repaired, it is useful to be able to judge time by the sun, moon, and stars. 



As a general rule, it may be taken that the sun rises and sets at six o'clock in the 

 tropics. 



In the southern hemisphere the longest day Is December 22nd, and the shortest 

 June 22nd. In the northern the exact reverse holds. 



The times of the rising and setting of the sun vary with the latitude and with 

 the declination. 



When the declination is its farthest south, it is the longest day In the southern 



