THE TENT 



tried, before going anywhere, to learn what has been 

 proved by experience to be suitable to that particular 

 country, and I hope therefore that some of the sug- 

 gestions put forward in this chapter may be of value 

 to those intending to visit the more remote and desert 

 regions of East Africa. 



One of the essential points to bear in mind, when 

 buying necessary equipment, is the method of trans- 

 port that is to be utilised, and the weight, shape and 

 nature of the articles must be adapted to it. If the 

 traveller wishes to leave the well-known and popu- 

 lated highlands of the Protectorate, and to enter the 

 unexplored, and to me, at least, far more fascinating 

 regions, he will have to provide himself with camels 

 in order to cross the arid and often waterless country 

 that he will encounter. And I shall base my sugges- 

 tions on this hypothesis. 



For a journey of over six weeks, a large tent is 

 almost a necessity, and it should be protected from 

 sun and rain by a separate outer covering or "fly," 

 extended in front to form a kind of verandah. The 

 back of the tent proper should be semicircular in 

 shape, thus providing a kind of second compartment 

 or chamber in which "chop" boxes and personal 

 belongings may be stored in comparative safety, while 

 it leaves the body of the tent unencumbered, with 

 ample room for bed and chair. A ground sheet of 

 the same material as the tent {i.e. rot-proof canvas) 

 should be provided, which, if laced tightly to the walls 

 of the tent, will prevent snakes from entering, and will 

 help to exclude the damp. When camp is pitched, 

 see that the men always, wet or fine, dig a small 

 trench round the tent just within the overhanging 

 edge of the outer "fly," so that in case of a sudden 



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