48 WAGNER and TREVOR 



When travelling with two wagons a very comfortable camp can 

 be made by placing the wagons parallel to each other, about eight 

 feet apart, and stretching a large tarpaulin over them ; the tarpaulin 

 being secured by large tent pegs and if necessary supported at the 

 middle by means of a long pole. This provides a commodious living 

 room and keeps the ground round the wagons dry. In rainy weather 

 the cooking can be done under one corner of the tarpaulin. 

 With a single wagon, motor lorry or motor car an almost equally 

 good awning can be made by stretching a tarpaulin over the 

 wagon or lorry and attaching the ends on one side to three 

 or four poles supported by guy ropes, or to trees if there are any 

 about; the other end of the tarpaulin being tied on to the wheels 

 of the vehicle. 



For permanent camps some travellers favour lofty grass huts 

 provided with mosquito-proof doors and windows. These are very 

 cool and easily and cheaply erected in districts where natives skilled 

 in this work are available. Native huts are, on the other hand, to 

 be avoided as they are generally infested with vermin, and deserted 

 huts often harbour snakes. 



In malarious districts care should, be taken not to leave old tins 

 about near the camp as these are favourite breeding places for mos- 

 quitos. 



4. CAMP EQUIPMENT. 



TENTS. 



The most convenient pattern of tent is the "Cottage Tent", with 

 fly and mosquito curtains not only for the ends, but on the walls 

 so that they can be lowered when these are raised. Such curtains 

 are not only necessary to keep out mosquitos but are an absolute 

 godsend in places where house-flies are abundant. 



A very comfortable explorer's tent made by Y. S. Simpson & 

 Company of Pretoria, to accommodate two persons, measures 

 9ft. X 8 ft. with 3ft. walls; the total height being 7ft. Gin. It is 

 provided with ordinary upright and jointed cross-poles and a large 

 fly projecting beyond the tent on all sides, so that it can be used 

 as a verandah. The ends and walls of the tent are lines with 

 specially heavy fireproof mosquito curtains and it is provided with 

 a thick canvas floor cloth. Such a tent comfortably takes two 

 stretchers and a small table. The cost depends upon the quality 

 of the canvas used. With the best rot-proof canvas it is 24., 



