698 DIKECTIONS 



will find a small distilling apparatus very useful. By its means 

 he is able not only to distil weak and deteriorated spirits or any 

 other fluid containing alcohol, but also, in case of necessity, to 

 prepare a small quantity of drinkable spirits. 



Of collecting vessels we mention first those which the collector 

 requires for daily use. Most convenient are four-sided boxes 

 made of zinc, 18 in. high, 12 in. broad, and 5 in. wide. They 

 have a round opening at the top of 4 in. diameter, which can 

 be closed by a strong cover of zinc of 6 in. diameter, the cover 

 being screwed into a raised rim round the opening. In order to 

 render the cover air-tight, an indiarubber ring is fixed below its 

 margin. Each of these zinc boxes fits into a wooden case, the 

 lid of which is provided with hinges and fastenings, and which 

 on each side has a handle of leather or rope, so that the box can 

 be easily shifted from one place to another. These boxes are in 

 fact made from the pattern of the ammunition cases used in the 

 British army, and extremely convenient, because a pair can be 

 easily carried strapped over the shoulders of a man or across the 

 back of a mule. The collector requires at least two, still better four 

 or six, of these boxes. All those specimens which are received 

 during the day are deposited in them, in order to allow them to 

 be thoroughly penetrated by the spirit, which must be renewed 

 from time to time. They remain there for some time under the 

 supervision of the collector, and are left in these boxes until 

 they are hardened and fit for final packing. Of course, other 

 more simple vessels can be used and substituted for the collecting 

 boxes. For instance, common earthenware vessels, closed by a 

 cork or an indiarubber covering, provided they have a wide 

 mouth at the top, which can be closed so that the spirit does not 

 evaporate, and whith permits of the specimens being inspected at 

 any moment without trouble. Vessels in which the objects are 

 permanently packed for the home journey are zinc boxes of various 

 sizes, closely fitting into wooden cases. Too large a size should 

 be avoided, because the objects themselves may suffer from the 

 superimposed weight, and the risk of injury to the case increases 

 with its size. It should hold no more than 18 cubic feet 

 at most, and what, in accordance with the size of the specimens, 

 has to be added in length should be deducted in depth or breadth. 



