ROUND THE CAMP FIRE 349 



together, and, placing it between some soft substance, such 

 as sacking, beat it continuously with a mallet or smooth- 

 rounded billet of wood. 



The advantages of the above process are that skins so 

 treated retain unsullied their clear, pure white and other 

 colouring. This curing process can be carried out on the 

 march, and the skins may be carried with perfect safety 

 and in a very small space. 



Until "aired" in the sun, skins thus cured have an 

 odour not exactly unpleasant, but very pungent, which 

 effectually safeguards them from the attacks of animals or 

 insects ; but an application of turpentine will now do no 

 harm. 



Should the sportsman wish to provide himself with the 

 wherewithal of treating wounds, especially those inflicted 

 by felines, which are rendered so dangerous by the invari- 

 ably septic condition of their claws and teeth, the following 

 may be found useful : 



A strong glass syringe, a pair of forceps, some anti- 

 septic lint and cotton wool, borax and iodoform powder, 

 and a bottle of tabloids of perchloride of mercury. 



The latter when dissolved in water, strength i in 1,000, 

 makes the surest antiseptic lotion when used freely in the 

 syringe. Carbolic and other oil should be avoided, as it is 

 apt to seal or close up the surface of the wound. 



To men accustomed to hunt in bracing temperate and 

 cold climates only, the camp of an Indian shikari would 

 perhaps appear unnecessarily, even absurdly luxurious. 

 The hardy hunter from the North- West of America, for 

 instance, used to roughing it with pack and " billy," might 

 feel inclined to scoff at the appurtenances of his fellow- 

 sportsman in the East. 



But in the hot and enervating jungles of India billy- 

 boiling and roughing it will not do, which is proved by the 



