358 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



go on to camp. Take a cold bath, and get a good 

 meal ready as soon as possible — that is, about 

 noon. From 12 to 4 there is sure to be plenty 

 to do in the tent. The route has to be plotted, 

 observations taken, native chiefs to be interviewed, 

 while your men have quarrels, punishments, and 

 sores which must be attended to ; and, if of a scien- 

 tific turn, you have a wide variety of occupations, 

 e.g., plants to be pressed and labels written, snakes 

 and toads to be plunged in spirits, rocks to be 

 packed, as well as notes (which should be as full 

 as possible), to be written. 



From 4 to 6 p.m., if you have time and strength, 

 a close and minute observation of the country 

 about is always of advantage, or if there is any 

 game, then is the time to try for it. I did not 

 like leaving my caravan on the march to shoot, 

 partly because one never knew what might not 

 occur, and partly because of the fatigue. 



At sunset have your dinner, and after it, or with 

 it, a small glass of whiskey. I think it not at all 

 advisable to touch alcohol until this time of the 

 day when one is sure to be exhausted and in a low 

 state of mind and body ; it is, I think, best not 

 to march on Sunday. 



Travelling in this way one can keep one's health 

 for months, even in a dangerous climate ; and 

 though for a short period of two or three months 

 it is possible to travel straight on or even 20 or 

 30 miles on one day (which has to be done pretty 



