HOW TO PITCH A TENT. 181 



be taken to dig a trench, outside, to carry away 

 the rain-water (vide Plate, page 177, 5) ; and to 

 raise a bank of earth in the inside (vide Plate, 

 page 177, a), to prevent wind, dust, or draught 

 from coming in under the canvas sides. When 

 it is intended to remain for any length of time 

 in a place, the interior area of the tent may be 

 excavated, leaving a shelf of about 18 inches in 

 width all round; and the centre pole being 

 lengthened or the stove set up, it then becomes 

 a most commodious habitation. 



In case of bad weather, storm-ropes should be 

 fastened to the spokes of the tent-poles and 

 pegged securely, taking care that the tent- 

 pegs are driven in a sloping direction, in- 

 clining inwards, so that they are less easily 

 drawn out. 



Should the soil be sandy, the ropes ought to 

 be bushed, which is done by burying branches 

 deeply, and only leaving a hook above the sur- 

 face, to which the rope is attached (vide Plate, 

 page 180;. Two tent-pegs may be buried in a 



