FOR THE HIMALAYAS. 



35 



sods, or pieces of timber being laid to keep all wind out. The 

 weight, with poles and wooden pegs, should not exceed 301b. to 

 351b. These tents may with advantage be stained Khaki-colour ; 

 often game leave a valley, having seen a conspicuous white object 

 at the bottom or end of it, perhaps some miles away. One of 

 Khaki-colour is much more easily concealed, as the shade is similar 

 to the background. These two tents are sufficient ; a third can 

 always be rigged up with a large waterproof sheet, that will be 

 hereafter alluded to. 



A camp bedstead is essential, to keep one off the moist earth ; 

 but when after game and hot in its pursuit, one often dispenses 

 with it and lies on " bracken," or any other material with which a 

 couch can be made. It should be well finished, with four good 

 stout legs, and strong stiff material for the sides and ends. Tbe 

 dimensions should be 6ft. long, 2|ft. wide, and 1ft. 8in. high. 

 This is the frame (A). The canvas bottom is usually laced all 

 along the ends and one side, but this is an endless source of delay 



m Long sides 



Corner enlarged 



and inconvenience, as the cord gets worn with incessant hauling 

 backwards and forwards through the holes, and then, if knotted, 

 has to be cut or opened whenever the bed is taken to pieces. The 

 annexed plan will be found to answer very fairly, and can be im- 

 proved upon by having buckles underneath instead of permanent 

 stitching (B 1, 1, 1). This is really a tube of canvas the width of 

 the bed ; the canvas should cross the bed and be joined by its 

 edges and the ends underneath, where they meet in the centre, may 

 be sewn or strapped with half-a-dozen straps and buckles, as 

 alluded to above. Stitching will answer, however, as the canvas 



D 2 



