PREPARING FOR A STORM. 245 



and circumstances. Experience alone can decide what 

 Is best to be done. Means of lighting a fire should 

 however form an invariable part of the hunter's 

 equipment. 



But we take it for granted that the hunter does not 

 go out alone; also that he is fairly well mounted, on 

 a good horse, and attended, either by an after-rider, 

 or by one or more native followers, who run alongside 

 on foot ; and in this case we will also suppose that he 

 does not intend to risk breaking down his shooting 

 horse by a reckless riding after swift-footed game, 

 which has nothing but itself to carry in its flight. 

 These things then being so, there are therefore means 

 of carrying a good many small necessaries, to ensure 

 a reasonable degree of comfort, in case of being kept 

 out all night, or of encountering a storm. Some of 

 these, such as a blanket and light waterproof, may be 

 strapped across the front of one's own saddle. A small 

 frying-pan and coffee-pot can be carried by an attendant, 

 with such other items as may be deemed necessary, 

 besides the guns and ammunition which must accompany 

 every shooting party. 



We deem it however better to quote from the 

 writings of various hunters of acknowledged authority, 

 such particulars as they happen to have furnished us 

 with in regard to their own arrangements upon such 

 occasions, from which our readers will we trust be 

 able to select a list of items suited to their respective 

 needs. 



The first authority which we shall quote is Mr. Gordon 

 Cumming, the renowned South African hunter of just 

 half a century ago: 



" I had at last (he says) got into the way of making my- 



