6o CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



reach. The seals should be on the top so that they will not get broken by knocking 

 against other things. 



A number of tins, of which the lids prize up with a coin or knife, should be 

 provided, as they fit down close, and when a tin of jam is opened the contents should 

 be transferred to one of these tins, otherwise while on the march it will get full of 

 sand and insects. 



The tins of tea and cocoa should be of the same kind on a larger scale. If, after 

 opening a bale of calico, there is reason to suppose that any is being stolen, one can 

 put one's initials in pencil in the corner of the remaining piece every time any is torn 

 off for use, and see if they are still there next time one goes to the bale ; but natives 

 will seldom take anything of this sort. 



A few coloured cloths should be taken to present on special occasions, such as 

 to a chief who brings news of a lion or elephant, or to one's native tracker, after 

 killing some special animal which he has been instrumental in following up. 



Some beads should also be taken, only the fashion in vogue should be carefully 

 inquired into before purchasing them, as they differ at different times and with 

 different tribes. 



When pitching one's tent during the rains, slightly sloping ground should be 

 chosen, and a little trench dug close up to the tent on three sides, the door side 

 being the fourth, which should be down hill. 



If this is the side from which the rain is blowing, of course one would have the 

 tent sideways, and the side trench would have to pass the door. 



If camping near a village, a convenient place outside should be chosen, the 

 further away the better, as there are always rats in a village. 



When an animal is killed, especially hippo or eland, the fat should be taken and 

 boiled down and kept in tins for cooking purposes. Lion and hippo fat is very useful 

 for cleaning rifles. 



Instead of having to stoop down to one's basin on the ground or on a box to wash, 

 it is better to cut three sticks such as bamboo, and making a tripod of them, tie 

 them about the middle with a piece of bark and stick the ends in the ground, resting 

 the basin in the fork. 



For the spare rifle a long leather bucket is useful, with only the butt protruding. 

 It can be easily pulled out, and when carried by a native the leather protects the 

 barrel, &c., from his sweaty hand and shoulder. 



The clothes should not be woolly, or they will collect and get covered with 

 burrs, grass seeds, &c. 



The breeches or shorts should be khaki, canvas, or gabardine. 



