HINTS ON TRAVELLING AND CAMP EQUIPMENT. 207 



The tent poles are made of male bamboo, rather thicker than an ordinary spear shaft, 

 and are jointed in the middle for facility of transport. The tent is made of American drill 

 dyed 'khaki' color. As will be observed, no ropes are required except the guy ropes, 

 the tent pegs being inserted in metal loops attached to the margin of the cloth, which should 

 be double or treble. 



The pegs are of iron, square in section, and about ten inches long ; twenty-one are 

 required to pitch the tent properly ; they weigh 14 lbs. 



The pegs are packed in a strong leather bag, which prevents them from chafing and 

 wearing holes in the tent, which they soon do if rolled loosely up in it according to the 

 favorite practice of servants. 



The poles are contained in a strong canvas bag, and then rolled up with the pegs in 

 the tent, which is again protected by an outer cover of strong canvas, the whole weighing 

 under 80 lbs. 



Though generally pitched as shown in the photograph, the upper fly may be dispensed 

 with in cool dry weather ; or, by having a spare upright and an additional ridge pole, 

 it may be pitched in prolongation of the inner fly, thus forming a sort of verandah, and more 

 than doubling the space covered in. 



For one's servants, the tent known as a ' bivouac pal,' such as was used by some 

 regiments in the late Afghan campaign, is very convenient : it is also most useful when 

 one wishes to sleep a night or two on the hill, in places where it is impracticable or undesir- 

 able to take an ordinary tent. A bivouac tent may be of double cloth and the dimen- 

 sions as follows : — 



ft. ins. 

 Height ... ... 3 6 



Length ... ... J 6 



Width at base ... 7 o 



Such a tent will accommodate three natives with ease ; and I should recommend the 

 sportsman to take two, one to serve as a kitchen in bad weather. The poles and pegs may 

 be rather lighter than those of the larger tent. Canvas bags to contain everything should be 

 provided for these tents also. 



My tents were made by the Elgin Mills Company at Cawnpore, who have the 

 patterns. 



Beds and Bedding. 



Although I have slept on the ground for years, I think it is advisable to have a light 

 camp-bedstead, to keep one off the damp ground, and to save one to a certain extent from 

 the attacks of insects, as well as to raise one above the draught which must penetrate more 

 or less under the walls of the best pitched tent. 



Many sorts of camp-bed have been invented, but the majority of them are either too 

 heavy and cumbrous, or too complicated and fragile. 



