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.’ 
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 
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