276 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



as a cape in the daytime in case of showers. I carry in my baggage a 

 light, so-called balloon silk A tent for use in regions where one may 

 expect rain at night. This has a ridge rope by which it is suspended 

 and weighs six pounds. In mountain regions where the nights are 

 cold I depend for warmth on keeping a fire during the night, rather 

 than on carrying extra bedding. But in my baggage I carry a water- 

 proof sleeping bag for use on longer trips with a pack animal. Where 

 mosquitoes abound one must be provided with a cheese-cloth tent, or at 

 least with a head veil. 



The cooking utensils may be reduced to a very few pieces, but in 

 this aluminum age one may add a few luxuries. While one can with 

 patience cook over a small fire between stones, this method has its dis- 

 advantages. There may be no stones ; but even when these are present 

 it is not easy to find them of the proper size and shape for the small 

 vessels used by one person, such as a pail four inches in diameter. 

 I therefore usually carry a " stove " or grate. This consists of three 

 pieces of strap iron about fifteen inches long, fastened by four cross 

 strips. This can be set across stones or small logs and is certainly a 

 great convenience. It is strong enough to hold in the middle a quart 

 of water. When packed it is placed in a cloth sack to prevent the soot 

 from soiling other articles. Two or three dishes may be cooking at the 

 same time by this means. The cooking utensils consist of a straight- 

 sided coffee pot, a pail in which this fits, both of aluminum, all with the 

 parts riveted, not soldered, and finally a small frying pan of iron. I 

 have not found aluminum so satisfactory for the latter article, as foods 

 cooked in it seem to burn more easily. A second small pail is a con- 

 venience, in fact I often use in an emergency a tin fruit can with the 

 top melted off and a wire bail attached. Each utensil used over the 

 fire should be packed in a light cloth bag to prevent the soot from soil- 

 ing the other articles. One can not take time to remove soot after each 

 meal. In addition might be mentioned a plate and two bowls of 

 aluminum, a drinking cup of tin (aluminum gets too hot), knife, fork 

 and dessert spoon. I must not fail to mention the canvas bucket. 

 This is light and collapsible, and is very convenient to bring a supply 

 of water from a distance. One can not always camp in the immediate 

 vicinity of water. The best matches are the old-fashioned sulphur kind 

 that come in blocks. These should be kept in a waterproof box. In a 

 recent work on camping I saw mentioned a handy contrivance for blow- 

 ing the fire. It consists merely of a rubber tube with a short metal 

 tube at the end. When cooking with such a small outfit it is necessary 

 to use a small fire, frequently replenished. The blower serves a useful 

 purpose for bringing the fire quickly into action. I have used this 

 article during the last season and can heartily recommend it to others. 

 In describing my outfit I mentioned a plant digger. For this purpose 



