204 THE GAME OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 



you can sit outside on return to camp shaded from the afternoon or evening sun ; in 

 other words, the tent should be placed under the tree, with the door to the east of the 

 trunk. 



Any formation of the ground which might prove to be a watercourse after rain, 

 or any depression which might fill with water, is to be avoided in the immediate 

 vicinity of the tent. 



If it is the rainy season, let the back or side (according to pattern of tent) be 

 towards the prevailing wind, so that rain is not driven into the tent. If, however, it 

 is the hot weather, then arrange the door of the tent to face the prevailing wind, so as 

 to obtain a cool breeze flowing through the tent, and have all the tent side-flies rolled 

 up during the day. If there is no shady tree the door must be juggled so as to face 

 away from the afternoon sun, which is always possible unless the prevailing wind is 

 from the west. 



Having a lot of firewood close at hand is another important consideration, and 

 seeing a fallen dead tree in a convenient spot is often an inducement to make it a 

 camp-site, especially after a long march or when there is little daylight left. If the 

 water supply is to be obtained from a swamp, then camp some distance from it or 

 above it, for the neighbourhood of a swamp is unhealthy, and if in low country is 

 bound to be full of mosquitoes. 



It is easier to bring water from a distance than it is to carry firewood. 



The tent having been pitched, make it a rule to have a trench dug round it as 

 soon as possible to carry off rain-water. It is too late to dig trenches when the 

 rain has started or a sudden thunderstorm has burst. The trench should be in such 

 a position as to catch all the water from the roof of the tent, and the earth of the 

 trench should be banked against the tent. 



A waterproof sheet put up as an awning at the door of the tent gives pleasant 

 shade, and makes a cool place to sit under, as the wind percolates freely beneath. 

 Nor does such a sheet weigh much, and it may be easily fixed up by one upright 

 bamboo stuck into the ground and another pole tied between it and the tent-pole. 

 Over this the sheet is slung and is fastened to the ground by cord and pegs. Spare 

 loads can be placed under this shelter safe from the rain and sun. 



Having arranged the site for your tent, it is advisable to put the porters' 

 camp some little distance downwind. By so doing the noise nuisance is somewhat 

 mitigated, and you do not get the smoke from their fires, but, above all, you are 

 less troubled with the stench which emanates from their camp. A collection of 

 raw porters is, as a rule, very strong. The coast porters are fairly clean, and do 

 not smell much, but there is generally some decaying meat in their possession. 



