HINTS AS TO ALPINE TEAVELLING. 805 



Soft woollen socks, such as those made in Shetland. Of these two 

 or three pairs are required. 



A shooting coat, a waistcoat, and trousers of flannel, or of 

 shepherd's plaid, the two former being double-breasted. Flannel 

 should always be worn next the skin on account of rapid changes of 

 temperature on the glaciers and in the valleys. 



A light wide-awake hat, with strings or elastic band. In very hot 

 weather the action of the sun on the forehead and temples may be 

 diminished by a thick roll of white muslin round the hat. 



A light waterproof of sUk ; one may be got weighing only six 

 ounces. 



The contents of the knapsack should not weigh more than 6 or 7 

 lbs. They should consist of two spare thin merino shirts, three or 

 four pairs of socks, well run in heels and toes, a very thin pair of 

 trousers or drawers for change, two pocket handkerchiefs, and a pair 

 of light shoes ; materials for mending — as needles, thread, worsted, 

 tape, buttons, bits of cloth and flannel; also string, soap, sponge, 

 brush and comb, and tooth-brush ; oiled-silk, lint, and bandages ; 

 ordinary medicine — as compound rhubarb pUls, opium, and sugar of 

 lead and opium piUs, tartar emetic, lard and sticking-plaster ; a smaU 

 quantity of note-paper, ink, and pens ; a large knife, furnished with 

 a corkscrew, gimlet, and saw ; lucifers ; a pair of dark spectacles, 

 and a dark veil, and warm gloves and mufiitees. There may be also 

 added a journal, a thermometer, compass, clinometer, whistle, and a 

 small telescope. A flask and drinking-cup will also be of service, and 

 a common coarse blouse, which can be procured in Switzerland for two 

 francs. For travelling on glaciers a few screws, aibout f ths of an inch 

 long, with large double-pointed heads, are useful. Wills procured 

 them at Chamouni. These are screwed into the sole, three or four 

 being enough for each shoe. 



For glacier work, stout ropes, thicker than a window-sash cord 

 are required, 10 to 15 feet for each person, and an ice hatchet. An 

 alpenstock, 6 feet in length, is of essential service. A good map is 

 also of great value. The botanist must also have a small tin box, 10 

 or 12 inches in length, and about 4 deep ; a smaU spade,, in a 

 leathern case, fastened round his waist, and a small fieljd-book for 

 drying plants, made of thin wooden boards, 8 or 9 inches long, and 

 about 5 inches broad, and containing drying paper, about 1 or 1| inch 

 deep. The plants gathered must be transferred to larger drying paper 

 at different stations, and must then either be carried by a porter, or 

 sent by conveyance of some sort. 



It is by no means necessary to have guides in every part of the 

 Alps of Switzerland. For instance, Mr. Wills says, that none are 

 required for the Col de Balme, the TSte Koire, the Col de Vose, the 

 Great St. Bernard, the Gemmi, and the Grimsel. In wandering. 



