APPENDIX v.— HINTS TO SPORTSMEN 495 



Personally, I invariably keep all the rifles in use loaded, except when 

 they are cleaned. On being brought into camp, they are taken straight 

 to my tent and tied to the tent-pole next the head of my bed. I adopted 

 this practice contrary to all usual precept, from having lost many shots 

 through a rifle not being ready, and after twice being nearly shot by shikaris 

 loading hurriedly in face of big game, and touching the trigger in doing so. 



Arms for Escort. 

 Snider carbines, 10. 

 Ball cartridges, 300. 

 Blank cartridges, 300. 



Permission may sometimes be obtained to practise these at the Arsenal, 

 Aden. 



3. Tents. 



The English makers turn out good work, but they sacrifice too much 

 to extreme lightness, and their tents have not the many little dodges an 

 Indian tent has. 



If you want a house for six months or a year, you generally look at it 

 before taking it, but a man often orders a tent, as if there were hvX one 

 pattern, and discovers when too late, that he, at all events, has not got the 

 right one. 



If an English tent is taken, it should be of green rot-proof canvas, with 

 double roof quite 6 inches apart, the outer fly nearly touching the ground. 

 One 7 feet long by 9 feet wide is a good size for a man to live and sleep 

 in, or it will accommodate two and leave a good passage down the centre. 

 A verandah 8 feet out, to lace on so that either side can nearly touch the 

 ground while the other is some way off it, makes a good dining-room. For 

 one man only to sleep in, a tent 6 feet 9 inches square is sufficient, and 

 where much rain and cold is not to be encountered, the addition of a 

 verandah, on the same plan, but smaller than the last, will make it all that 

 is necessary. If the sportsman will look after the following points, I 

 think he will not regret it : — 



Cords : stout, along the ridge and top of walls to hang things on. 

 ,, thin, to tie up sides, etc., ends to be worked, not lashed. 

 Doors : to fasten with toggles outside, tapes inside. 

 Ends : to be lined, to keep out sun and driving rain. 

 Outer ply and verandah : to be lined, to keep out sun. 

 Ground sheet : of rot-proof canvas full size of tent. 

 Hood : a small one at either end. 

 Loops : to peg walls down by, are often left too long. 



