THE NETHERLANDS-EAST-INDIES. 13 



that this may as well be left at home. First the traveller, when 

 sufficiently careful, stands very little chance of being mortally 

 bitten (the authors have never been bitten in the snake-countries 

 of Borneo and Sumatra during their stay of many years) and 

 secondly the remedy is seldom directly at hand when needed. 

 Thorough pinching and sucking of the wound immediately after 

 the bite, with tying-off is the best remedy. It is advisible to take 

 liquid ammonia as an excellent remedy against the bites of smaller 

 insects and to keep it in a small bottle in a box-wood case in the 

 measuring-tin (see sub Surveying). 



11. Paper-chest and cylindrical mapcases preferably made of zinc 

 and capable of being locked should be ordered for the trip. 



12. Simple carpenter's tools for every-day use are necessary. The 

 American cases, sold in the shops, in sets of a dozen or more tools 

 are very handy. For bigger coarser work the native usually prefers 

 his own tools, with which he works better. 



13. Camera. He who is not a skilled photographer, is advised 

 not to take an expensive apparatus and even a good photographer 

 will find by experience that it is not a simple matter to get good 

 negatives in the Indies. Plates and films should be kept in double- 

 bottomed boxes, provided with unslacked lime in small bags. 

 A box or roll once opened should be finished as soon as possible. 

 There is divergence of opinion about the question whether developing 

 the plates should be done directly or at the end of the journey or expe- 

 dition. The authors themselves think the first method the safer; partly 

 because a failure can sometimes be re-taken, and partly because 

 developed plates can be protected against the influence of moulds 

 by varnishing them. Besides plates of different provenience do not 

 always behave in the same manner with regard to durability after 

 exposure. If direct developing is preferred, this of course entails 

 extra carriage and for drying the plates alcohol absol. should always 

 be used. The camera should be carefully kept, free from insects, 

 but aluminium cases are not recommendable ; they soon get rusty. 

 The lenses should be regularly cleaned after use with a piece of 

 shammy moistened with alcohol. Special attention should be paid 

 to the fact that many cameras, so-called specially made for the- 

 tropics, do not at all meet tropical demands. 



14. For the traveller who is not too ambulant a small gramo- 

 phone is to be recommended; the timidity of the natives is often 

 conquered in that way. The instrument may also give some serve 

 as recreation for the coolies and workmen. Records with Malay 

 songs are preferred by them and may be had in Holland. 



