MISCELLANEOUS. 235 



these trees if they are in the vicinity of any plains 

 resorted to by these animals. On shooting the male of 

 any of the deer tribe, or ibex, the appendages should be 

 immediately removed, as they affect the flavour of the 

 venison. The skin of the sambur when tanned makes 

 excellent leather for gaiters, boots, and shika belts. It 

 will be sufficient to peg the skin out in the usual way, 

 rubbing wood ashes and alum well in until it is quite dry, 

 tanning operations being deferred until return to civilisa- 

 tion. 



To guard against malaria the greatest enemy the 

 Indian sportsman has to contend with a few grains of 

 quinine should be taken daily before dinner, and all your 

 followers should be similarly dosed. 



In unhealthy jungles boil all water before drinking it- 

 filtering it alone is insufficient; don't dig up the surface 

 of the ground in camp ; sleep at least three feet above the 

 ground level, and higher still if it can be managed ; always 

 sleep under mosquito curtains ; they keep off the breeze, 

 but after a few days' basking in the sun one gets case- 

 hardened and less sensitive to heat ; moreover, the beds 

 are always placed outside the tents at night. 



During the rains calico curtains should be used in 

 malarious districts, as they afford better protection than 

 the ordinary gauze ones. A small fire at the door of the 

 tent or hut is also very desirable during the monsoon. 

 The rooms in some travellers' bungalows, which are 

 situated in damp and unhealthy districts (Bandipore, for 

 instance), are unprovided with fireplaces, which is a serious 

 oversight. But, in spite of all precautions, the sportsmen 

 can hardly escape getting fever in some jungles, the worst 

 districts in this respect being generally the best for sport, 

 as their evil reputation secures them immunity from all 



