THE 



SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



Hints About Equipment, etc, 



AS a general rule the average traveller or hunter bound for a 

 trip into the Interior of Africa always leaves England encum- 

 bered with a vast amount of unnecessary baggage and " knick- 

 knacks," most of which he is ultimately obliged to leave at some 

 of the frontier towns as he gradually advances Northwards and 

 discovers their utter worthlessness. A practical sportsman wants an 

 outfit suitable for wear and tear and not for show, carrying with 

 him not a single article that he is unable to find a use for, solidity 

 and completeness of equipment being as imperative as lightness of 

 freight. He cannot be too forcibly reminded that the "roads" he 

 will traverse are hardly in keeping with those to which he is accus- 

 tomed in England,- and if his wagon is too heavily loaded with 

 unnecessaries, the more difficulties will he have to contend with, 

 and, in consequence, the less successful will the trip prove. 



All ordinary articles of wear, with one or two exceptions, can be 

 obtained almost as cheap in Cape Town, Kimberley, Natal, Mafeking, 

 and other centres, allowance in extra cost, of course, being made for 

 the distance from England. It would, however, be advisable before 

 leaving to be supplied with one good light semi-military saddle, 

 furnished with large D's for the purpose of carrying dead game, and 

 made of the best pig-skin, as well as some strong brown leather 

 riding boots. The " Field " pattern will suit admirably, but care 

 must be taken that those used for walking purposes are well studded 

 with nails. Two or three pairs of well made loose riding breeches, 

 of a material strong enough to withstand the assaults of the 

 numerous varieties of thorns which everywhere flourish so pro- 

 fusely in the Interior, should also be taken. Buckskin, although 

 strong enough for the purpose, is almost unbearable in the hot 



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