324 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. xvi. 



great care should be taken to put on dry clothes the first 

 thing after a halt is made for the night. One may be 

 drenched to the skin in the tropics without any harm 

 ensuing if this precaution is taken. Belts of soft flannel 

 worn around the stomach are very comfortable, and are 

 highly recommended by many medical men. All your 

 clothing should be light, and if of flannel so much the 

 better. A flannel shirt and tweed trowsers secured by a 

 belt and a light pith helmet, woollen socks, and a light 

 pair of English walking boots cannot be improved upon 

 as a travelling costume. A small knapsack or bag should 

 be carried containing a clean dry jersey, shirts, socks, 

 sarong, and light shoes ; you are then independent of your 

 baggage-bearers, who will often linger miles behind your- 

 self and guides. When a fire is made at night, have all 

 your clothes dried so as to be ready for the following 

 evening. To preserve them from wet in crossing rivers, 

 etc., fold them into as small a compass as possible, and 

 envelope them tightly in waterproof cloth. The old cover- 

 ings as removed from bales of Manchester goods are very 

 useful for this purpose. A couple of pairs of flannel 

 panjamas may be taken for sleeping in. Three changes 

 of travelling clothes will be sufiicient, this gives one suit 

 on, one being washed, and one suit dry and clean. For 

 bedding take a waterproof sheet, a drab rug, and a red 

 blanket. Light brushwood or palm leaves will make a 

 good substitute for a mattress. If shelter is not obtain- 

 able and the ground is wet, a light net-hammock becomes 

 useful, a roof to it being readily made with the water- 

 proof sheet. Take soap and a comb. 



Food is of the utmost importance. Rice, biscuits, and 

 oatmeal may form the staple, and tinned soups, Liebig's 

 extract of meat, and dried fish maybe added. Chocolate 



