648 WOODCRAFT. 



clothing at all times. For the feet, take good stout shoes, lacing 

 up tightly about the ankle. A pair of tight (not tight fitting) boots 

 may be very good for a short, wet walk, but for an all day's tramp 

 through swamp and pine woods, shoes are far superior. Two 

 pairs good woolen, and one rubber blanket. For sleeping in camp, 

 in this animated land of fleas, spiders and creeping things so un- 

 fortunately taken into the ark, a hammock should be used ; one 

 arranged (as it may easily be), with a light canvas roof, with sides 

 of netting. Two or three rafter-shaped triangles hung on a line 

 will spread such a shelter, and in a canvas hammock under it, one 

 can rest free from the companionship of the guides and dogs, and 

 without vivid ideas of snakes and centipedes. Sportsmen are 

 often disabled by the fiercest animal in Florida, the flea. High 

 boots will be some defence, but keep away from the vicinity of do- 

 mestic animals, and sleep not in any of the "cracker " houses, but 

 camp in remote pine woods and keep the dogs away from the 

 tent. Such forest is comparatively free from mosquitoes, and 

 in mid winter the sand flies are not very annoying. A mosquito 

 bar is indispensable, as many nights the tormenting insects call 

 their own. 



If the country on the coast be visited, the "bar " should be 

 made of thin cotton or lawn, to keep out the " sand flies," insects 

 so small as hardly to be discernible, but with a bite like the burn 

 of a hot iron. It would be well to take a little salve and thin plas- 

 ter for cuts and bruises. In the line of medicine one can take a 

 whole apothecary's shop, if so disposed, but, excepting a little 

 whiskey and quinine, the former for snake bites, which hardly ever 

 occur, and the latter for imaginary fever, no medicine will be 

 needed. For light at night, a lantern and candles will be sufficient, 

 though kerosene, where little transportation is to be made, is pre- 

 ferable. Buy it in New York in five gallon can, boxed. It will al- 

 ways sell for twice its cost. The keen bracing air gives more 

 pungency to a haunch of venison or brace of quail than all the 

 sauces piquante ever concocted. A bunch of Spanish moss is in- 

 finitely superior to a napkin, and the clear waters of some spring 

 to the finger-bowl. And here a word as to water. 



Nearly all the water in East Florida is impregnated more or 

 less with lime or some mineral or salt that gives it a " flat " taste to 



