HINTS ON TRAVELLING AND CAMP EQUIPMENT. 200. 



sewn to each margin and furnished with brass eyelets, so as to fold over and lace in the 

 centre. A flap of canvas was also attached to the foot of the sheet, and a large bolster- . 

 shaped bag with circular ends to the head. This bag is the receptacle for a pillow, iron 

 wash-hand basin with leather cover containing brushes, comb, soap, looking-glass, towels, 

 &c, &c, while all blankets are neatly folded and laid on the waterproof sheet. The flaps 

 are then turned in and laced, the whole rolled up commencing at the head, and secured 

 by two strong leather straps which are kept in their places by loops sewn to the canvas. 



The bedding thus secured is kept dry on the march, and can be got ready for the night 

 in a few seconds. The stretcher should form part of the same load. 



Four thick blankets should be sufficient for any climate, but in Thibet I recommend 

 the use of an extra thick sleeping suit. Additional warmth may be secured by lacing the 

 side flaps loosely over one, thereby effectually excluding all draughts. 



Although the tired hunter will find that he will sleep soundly on the stoniest ground, 

 there is no use in incurring unnecessary discomfort, and in the forest-clad hills a most 

 luxurious mattress may be improvised from the young branches of the pine-tree. A bed 

 composed of these twigs, piled to the thickness of about a foot, will be found to be deli- 

 ciously soft and elastic, besides being delightfully fragrant. 



Mosquito curtains are absolutely necessary in some places ; a very simple and portable 

 arrangement is to suspend them from a cane hoop. 



Trunks and Baskets. 



The ' yek-ddns ' (Persian for ice-box), already mentioned as forming part of the camp 

 bed, should hold nearly all the clothes, books, and other small articles which a sportsman 

 would require for a six months' trip ; but any one who wishes to travel more luxuriously 

 than I consider necessary, can, of course, provide himself with one or more additional 

 pairs. ' Yek-ddns ' are made in all sizes, but the most convenient are twenty-three inches 

 in length by eighteen in width and eighteen in height. The length of the ' yek-ddn ' becomes 

 its width when utilized as part of the bed. 



' Yek-ddns ' may be procured in Peshawur, or from Messrs. Foy at Cawnpore, but care 

 should be taken that they are properly made. They are sometimes lined with wood, and 

 are sometimes constructed of leather alone : the latter are too limp to bear the weight 

 of a stretcher, or indeed to stand much knocking about ; but I have found that the best 

 plan is to have the leather ones strengthened by an interior frame of some tough hard 

 wood, the sockets for the bed stanchions being firmly screwed to the frame-work. 



Although these boxes are best adapted for all articles that are liable to damage from 

 wet, they are unnecessarily heavy for the conveyance of stores, such as preserved soups, 

 liquor, &c, which cannot be injured by rain. For this purpose nothing answers better than 

 strong oval baskets made of cane, and covered with leather, such as are to be procured 

 at Nairn' Tal, but may be made by any basket-maker. These baskets are furnished with 

 a hinged lid, hasp and staple, so as to admit of their being kept under lock and key. They 

 are about twenty-four inches in length, by fourteen in width, and sixteen in height. 



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