160 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



should be thick, as they not only protect the feet from the 

 burning heat, but also prevent them from blistering. Merino 

 socks are very pleasant for camp, but are too thin for marching, 

 and soon wear out. Boots and shoes should be of brown 

 leather, as it is much cooler than black, and I find that shoes 

 worn with leggings with ' spat ' feet are undoubtedly cooler 

 than boots. Leggings of soft sheepskin, or so-called Sambur 

 leather, are excellent, and as they can be made to fit close to 

 the leg, they afford almost as much support as the Indian ' putti. 7 

 They have one disadvantage, however, as Sambur leather soaks 

 up and holds water more than other leather. All boots and 

 shoes should have the soles well studded with nails, of which 

 an extra supply should be taken, as walking in dry grass very 

 soon polishes the soles, and slipping about, disagreeable at 

 any time, becomes very exhausting after a long day. In the 

 matter of headgear, Ellwood's patent Shikar hat of felt and 

 brown canvas is excellent when the sun is very powerful ; it will 

 stand any amount of rough usage, and has the advantage of 

 being waterproof. A solar ' topee,' whether helmet or mushroom 

 shape, is much too conspicuous ; is apt to be dragged off the 

 head when passing through thorny bush ; tears and breaks very 

 easily ; and after a downpour of rain soon becomes reduced to 

 a heavy shapeless pulp. A parson's felt wideawake, covered 

 with the same material as the shooting suit, is capital for stalk- 

 ing in, as the brim is just wide enough to protect the back of 

 the neck when crawling up to game, and is not so large as to 

 be conspicuous. 



A waterproof of material specially made for the tropics is ; 

 indispensable. A very convenient shape with kilt and cape, 

 known as the ' Payne-Gallwey,' is made by Messrs. Cording, of 

 Air Street ; but for Africa I prefer a short coat with a cape 

 sufficiently long to keep a rifle dry when tucked under the arm 

 to a cape only. The kilt to protect the legs should reach well 

 below the knees. The advantage of this combination is that 

 after a heavy shower of rain the legs are still protected from 

 the wet grass, while the coat can be dispensed with, as it is 



