OUTFIT FOR TRAVELLING 343 



game is rare and yet may at any time come in one's path. When 

 specially hunting the jaguar, marsh-deer, tapir, or big peccary, an 

 ordinary light repeating rifle — the 30-30, 30-40, or 256 — is prefer- 

 able. No heavy rifle is necessary for South America. Tin boxes 

 or trunks are the best in which to carry one's spare things. A good 

 medicine-chest is indispensable. Nowadays doctors know so much 

 of tropical diseases that there is no difficulty in fitting one out. It 

 is better not to make the trip at all than to fail to take an ample 

 supply of quinine pills. Cholera pills and cathartic pills come next 

 in importance. In liquid shape there should be serum to inject for 

 the stoppage of amoebic dysentery, and anti-snake-venom seram. 

 Fly-dope should be taken in quantities. 



For clothing Kermit and I used what was left over from 

 our African trip. Sun helmets are best in the open ; slouch-hats 

 are infinitely preferable in the woods. There should be hobnailed 

 shoes — the nails many and small, not few and large — and also 

 moccasins or rubber-soled shoes, and light, flexible leggings. 

 Tastes diff^er in socks ; I like mine of thick wool. A khaki-coloured 

 shirt should be worn, or, as a better substitute, a khaki jacket 

 with many pockets. Very light underclothes are good. If one's 

 knees and legs are, unfortunately, tender, knickerbockers, with long 

 stockings and leggings, should be worn ; ordinary trousers tend to 

 bind the knee. Better still, if one's legs will stand the exposure, 

 are shorts, not coming down to the knee. A kilt would probably 

 be best of all. Kermit wore shorts in the Brazilian forest, as he 

 had" already worn them in Africa, in Mexico, and in the New 

 Brunswick woods. Some of the best modern hunters always wear 

 shorts ; as, for example, that first-class sportsman the Duke of Alva. 



Mr. Fiala, after the experience of his trip down the Papagaio, 

 the Juruena, and the Tapajos, gives his judgment about equipment 

 and provisions as follows : 



The history of South American exploration has been full of the 

 losses of canoes and cargoes and lives. The native canoe made 

 from the single trunk of a forest giant is the craft that has been 

 used. It is durable, and if lost can be readily replaced from the 

 forest by good men with axes and adzes. But, because of its great 

 weight and low free-board, it is unsuitable as a freight carrier, and, 



