356 APPENDIX B 



found the electric lamp so helpful. Reclining in the hammock, 

 I held the stock of the light under my left arm and with diary in 

 my lap wrote up my records for the day. I sometimes read by its 

 soft, steady light. One charge of battery, to my surprise, lasted 

 nearly a month. When forced to pick out a camping spot after 

 dark, an experience which comes to every traveller in the tropics in 

 the rainy season, we found its light very helpful. Neither rain nor 

 wind could put it out and the light could be directed wherever 

 needed. The charges should be calculated on the plan of one for 

 every three weeks. The acetylene lamp for camp illumination is an 

 advance over the kerosene lantern. It has been found that for 

 equal weight the carbide will give more light than kerosene or 

 candle. The carbide should be put in small containers, for each 

 time a box is opened some of the contents turns into gas from 

 contact with the moist air. 



Tools. — Three or four good axes, several bill-hooks, a good 

 hatchet with hammer-head and nail-puller should be in the tool 

 kit. In addition, each man should be provided with a belt-knife 

 and a machete with sheath. Collins makes the best machetes. 

 His axes, too, are excellent. The bill-hook, caWed Jhice in Brazil, 

 is a most valuable tool for clearing away small trees, vines, and 

 undergrowths. It is marvellous how quickly an experienced hand 

 can clear the ground in a forest with one of these instruments. 

 All of these tools should have handles of second-growth American 

 hickory of first quality, and several extra handles should be taken 

 along. The list of tools should be completed with a small outfit 

 of pliers, tweezers, files, etc. — the character, of course, depending 

 upon the mechanical ability of the traveller, and the scientific 

 instruments he has with him that might need repairs. 



SuR-vTEY Instkuments. — The choice of instruments will depend 

 largely upon the character of the work intended. If a compass 

 survey will suffice, there is nothing better than the cavalry sketch- 

 ing-board used in the United States Army for reconnaissance. 

 With a careful hand it approaches the high degree of perfection 

 attained by the plane-table method. It is particularly adapted for 

 river survey, and, after one gets accustomed to its use, it is very 

 simple. If the plasmatic compass is preferred, nothing smaller 

 than two and one-half inches in diameter should be used. In the 



