CAMPING IN CHAMBA. 489 



kick them off when asleep. A pillow, a sheet, a warm sleeping suit and a 

 cummerbund, complete this parcel. For marching, it is rolled in the large 

 water-proof sheet and strapped up with rug-straps. I put the bundle thus 

 made inside one of those tan-canvas cabin bags with a padlocking handl e 

 that is passed through large eyelets. The basin also will go in this bag with 

 the bedding. This is not a load by itself, it will be tied up on top of the 

 cane tiffin basket to make a full cooly load. 



Take a supply of medicines for ordinary ailments and some Elliman, 

 since sprains are easily got on gooral ground ; some carbolic acid, turpentine, 

 two pounds of arsenical soap and a paint brush for it. I put this "soap " 

 in the square vaseline tins one buys, but it should be kept right side up if it 

 is moist. I always apply it myself, for it is dangerous stuff. In Chamba the 

 hies are very troublesome, therefore take PLENTY of FLY PAPEES, and a 

 gauze meat-safe. Skinning operations near the tent will of course attract 

 flies. Take a couple of bottles of spirits of wine and a screw stoppered jar, 

 for specimens, which, as in duty bound, you will bottle up for the Bombay 

 Natural History Society. A ball of strong cord and four packing needles 

 will be very useful for sewing up gunnies, salitahs, &c. Until near the end 

 of a stalk, your rifle should be carried in a tan-canvas sling cover. A tan- 

 canvas cartridge bag for cartridges, pipe and odds and ends, will also be of 

 use. Some books as taste may incline, besides the " Fauna of India " series, 

 Tyacke's" Manual," and "Family Medicine;" kodak or sketching kit.' "Weapons 

 and ammunition, cleaning rods, rags, vaseline, bird-skinning and egg-blowing 

 kit, luggage labels for return journey, writing materials, pocket diary for re- 

 cording sporting and other observations, expenditure, &c. A strong male bam- 

 boo as alpenstock, unshod if you are a good cragsman, otherwise safer with a 

 chisel-shaped iron on the end. This makes a noise if struck against a stone, 

 but when nearing animals you can reverse the stick. Spare tin-opener and 

 corkscrew. A hot-water plate keeps dinner warm when camping high up, 

 and goggles are advisable on snow, if the snow field is at all extensive. 

 A terai or a shikar hat is protection enough, if your umbrella is available 

 on the march sometimes. In May or June, ordinary ( or Millerained ?) 

 Khaki shikar suits, with a flannel shirt, suffice ; but it is well to have a 

 tweed or gabardine shooting suit for wear if the weather turns wet and 

 chilly. Against both heat and rain, the umbrella is a most necessary protec- 

 tion in the hills. Cotton-soled sambur boots are quite useless and even 

 dangerous in Chamba. The hillsides are generally rather soft, grassy and 

 steep, so you need plenty of large hob-nails and iron heels that you can dig 

 into the slippery ground. The shikaries can make grass shoes for wear with 

 ordinary socks {i.e., without a band between the toes) ; also the toed sort, 

 for which you could get six or more pairs of puttoo socks from Bahar 

 Shah or Summud Shah, at Srinagar, by Y. P. P. at 8 annas a pair. I found 

 thai hob-p.ailed ammunition boots did very well generally. See that your 



