BED AND BEDDING. 75 



read or write, or mend flies or sleep, as may be best for 

 ill-temper. 



In addition to these small tents for each individual of 

 the party, we have generally taken a bell tent or marquee 

 for a mess room and place of general assemblage, and a 

 tent for servants to sleep in. A shantee, made of logs 

 with bark for a roof, I consider better than a tent for 

 culinary purposes, as it is not so liable to be injured by 

 fire. 



A piece of tarpaulin spread over the floor of the tent is 

 extremely useful to keep out damp, and to exclude sand- 

 flies. 



Your bed should be simply two breadths of strong 

 Russia duck stitched well together, with an open hem at 

 each side so as to admit of a stout pole being passed 

 through each of them. Six feet long and two feet and a 

 half broad, will be sufficient for the generality of men in 

 these degenerate days. Of course in your travels to reach 

 the river's side you have to carry only the Russia duck, 

 which may be folded up to occupy little more space than 

 a pocket handkerchief; when you reach your camping 



place, you cut your poles from the nearest tree, select two 

 logs from the firewood, cut two notches in each of them 



