142 BRITISH HONDURAS. 



three, or even four sets of these, with a good riding suit of 

 whipcord, would be invaluable for everyday use, supplemented 

 by a good waterproof coat, soft wideawake hat, and a solar 

 helmet. As regards other clothes, each person should be guided 

 by his own tastes and resources. For town wear, gentlemen in 

 the tropics usually dress as in England in July and August : 

 thin tweeds, light or dark in colour, are veiy serviceable, as also 

 blue serges. 



For river travelling or camping-out, a good waterproof rug, 

 an ulster, or warm wrap, a mosquito net, a hammock, a useful 

 gun, a machete or cutlass, a compass, and a few canteen utensils 

 are most valuable. One of Davis's colonial saddles, with com- 

 plete fittings, are essential where riding is not a luxury, but often 

 the only means of travelling from place to place. For most 

 other things, possibly the local stores are as advantageous as 

 those in Europe ; for if the risk of loss and damage is added 

 to the expenses of agency, freight, insurance, and customs dues, 

 the difference in price is not very great. Moreover, the colonial 

 store possesses the advantage of supplying goods exactly suitable 

 to the requirements of the country, and of placing them at the 

 disposal of the planter in large or small quantities, as he may 

 require them. For underclothing, fine flannel shirts, with loose 

 easy collars, are the best for everyday wear, with a good supply 

 of print and white shirts for evening or town wear. Drawers 

 are looked upon by some as essential to keep out ticks and sand- 

 flies ; while a cholera-belt, or a strip of flannel worn round the 

 loins, is decidedly useful when exposed to extremes of tempera- 

 ture and heavy rains, incidental to a planter's life. It is hardly 

 necessary to state that although generally the weather along 

 the coast is warm, there are periods of extreme cold felt in the 

 interior, due to the cloudless skies and the rapid radiation of 

 heat, when warm wraps are essential. 



