Mat 21, 1885. j 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



339 



Inr ecu 

 buoy. 



miles, 



names 

 A. Fre 



tew sailors in their races. The following officers were late y elected : 

 Commodore, Pembroke Jones; Fleet Captain, Norwood piles; Flap; 

 captain. W. L, Smith; Puffed.', M. ft willard; Governing Board, H. 

 M. Bow den. W, L. Paisley, Gt. H. Smith: Marshal. H. MeL. Green. 



SHORT BRANCH BOAT CLUB.-A rare was sailed on Saturday, 

 May lfi, From Frank Bates's to buoy 1", off Bobbins Beet, thence, to 

 buoy 18 and home, two rounds, making 10 miles. Six boats, all eat- 

 rigged, started as follows: 1 atile Saunders, J. McMabon. 11:16 A, M.; 

 Bore \ Turner 1 1 :1.i:i'0; O. K , Wm. Traine, 11 10:10: Mary M., Jas. 

 Mevriman. 11:11: Josie, W. Bison, 11:17:10; Annie B.. C, Van Buskirk, 

 11 :1T ■L'ii, The wind was fresh From soni beast, aud soon pushed Mary 

 M into first place before buoy 17 was turned, which position she beld 

 ad the distance, winning by 40 seconds in SB. ISmin. 50sec. Bore was 

 ii.it tie Saunders third and Annie IS. fourth. 

 SHALL BOATS AT WINTHROP — On SaUi-day. May 16. tlie fltSt 

 Bason for catfaoats under 17ft.. was sailed over a triaugu- 

 rora fliilchius's pier, thence around the middle ground 

 >s Point buoy, and back to the start, a distance of 7',£ 

 "oats entered, mostly new ones built ' his winter. Their 

 "Mischief, B. Belcher'; Cadet, Dunham & Belcher: Dot, S. 

 ?cmatt: Flirt, J. A. Hildreth: Edith. Henry Turner; Tliera, H. 

 Hutchinson.' Mischief. flift. .Sin. long, designed and built by her 

 owner, won the race iu 1 hour Hfi minutes, being 08 seconds ahead ot 

 Cadet. Another race will be, sailed shortly. 



LARCHMONT Y. O— The following programme for the season 

 has been arranged by the club: Pennant regattas. .Bine t> and Sept. 

 5: annual rec-ntta, July 4. The club is in a prosperous condition with 

 a largo membership and fleet, and good entries are promised in all 

 the races. The small keel cabin class will be well represented this 

 yearbv the Aneto, vawl; Gannet, sloop; the former Mignonette, now 

 Nora, 'anil a fourth boat, all of similar size and fairly matched, all 

 being cruisers, but they will take part in the races and make good 

 sport in their ciaSB. 



JERSEY CITY Y. 0— The opening day of the. season will be on 

 May 30. when the members and guests will assemble at the clubhouse 

 at the foot of Jersey avenue at 9 A. M. The signal to sail will be given 

 at 10 A. M. from the flagship. The rendezvous will be in Gravesend 

 Bay. 



A BILOT BOAT AND A WHALE.— On May Vi, when cruising off 

 Nantucket, the pilot boat Alex. M. Lawrence, No. 4, ran violently into 

 a -whale, throwing the boat on her beam cuds, but doing no serious 

 iujnry to her. How the whale fared is not stated. 



PHOTOGRAPHS OF GENESTA.— The Canton Baint, and Oil Co., 

 whose advertisement appears in another column, are sending out 

 "handsome little photographs of Genesta to all who write for them. 



little, if any easier to build, as I know from personal experience. 

 They arc very much harder to turn; are heavier in proportion to tneir 

 floating capacity, ami the little that is saved in draft By carrying the 

 V frames at bow and stern down to a point, instead ot rounding OH 

 is not appreciable. Is it to StfVe a deep rudder a protection? A. skel- 

 eton frame, would do that, or is it to prevent theicwobbling under the 

 alternate strokes of the double paddle? The Esquimau does not .seem 

 toflndth's sufficient reason, for he does rocker his keel. It gives 

 them more lateral resistance tor sailing, but in larger sailing era.lt 

 your columns prove that this is generally effected by carrying the 

 keel down amidships and rounding up the ends If any, the light 

 draft is what is aimed at, but I am certain this is only apparent m 



most cases. , 



A canoe in river work generally grounds in going over sharp, steep 

 the bow and center get over and the former become 

 mersed in the level water below and immediately rises 

 the stem with a crash on the crest of ihe obstruction l 

 If the water is so shallow as not to alio v It 

 sufficiently, the bow sometimes finds bottom u> 

 remains supported hy both ends, and in all probi 

 dumps its crew. This operation 1 have seen det_ 

 more than once. To sum up. the finest sea boats in the world have 

 plenty of sheer and rockered keels. The best and most weatherly 

 sailing craft go iu for the same thing, and the boats which have 

 been for centuries considered best iu rapid waters are all cambered 

 (lam speaking Of. small boats). The only small craft which have 

 been long studied ami which still Stick to straight ue.els are the row- 

 boats built f..r going with tolerable directness and as speedily as 

 possible in smooth water, and very few canoes are built for that pur- 

 pose. H- K. »'• 



Ottawa, Canada. Mav 8. 



[Many of the earlier decked canoes were built, with a decided roeker 

 and we' know of no reason for the abandonment of the custom, as the 

 canoe is better for it. We should prefer a rocker at least 2in. iu 5ft., 

 as shown in tlie design of a cruising canoe published last. November 

 in the Forest and Stream, as the boat turns much more easily and 

 yet will paddle a straight course.] 



. . bringing down 

 on making the fall. 



stern to go down 

 well ami the canoe 

 ility turns over and 



ibed and pictured 



yxnaeittg. 



fvUS to send us notes and full reports of cruises 

 atimi about canoeable waters, and other emmnu 



Canoeists am w 

 club meets, infon 

 nicotians of interest. - 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Forest and 

 Stream their addresses, with name, membership, signals, etc. of 

 their clubs, aud also notices in advance of meetings and races, and 

 reports of the same. Canoeists and all interested in canoeing are 

 requested to forward to Forest and Streak their addresses, with 

 logs of cruises, ixaps, and information concerning their local waters, 

 drawings or descriptions of boats and fittings, and all items relating 

 to the spi >rt. 



FIXTURES. 



May S3— K. C. C. Spring Regatta. 



May 29, 30-Pittsburgh C, C Camp on Monongahela. 



Mav 29, 30— Hudson River Meet, 



May 30 to June 1— Connecticut River Meet, 



June f 4- Vesper Boat Club, Annual Regatta. 



June 25— Jersey City Y. O, Regatta. Special Class for Oanoes, 



June 27— Eastern Meet. Merrhnac River. 



July 18. S8— Western Meet. Ballast, Island, Lake Erie. 



July 24 to Aug. R- A. a, A. Meet, Grindstone Island. 



s 



AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION. 



_ EORETARY— 0. A. Neide. Rehuylerville. N. Y. Candidates for mem 



O hership must lorward their names, with $2 for initiation fee and 

 first year's dues, to the secretary, who will present the names to the 

 executive committee. Money Should be sent by registereit 'letter or 

 money order. 



THE A. C. A. PRIZE FLAGS. 



THE regatta committee thank the undermentioned members and 

 friends for kind promises of prizes received since the last 

 acknowledgment: 



Mr, S. C. Titus, Deseronto C. O., one flag. 



Miss Mary Burnet. Peterboro. one flog. 



Miss SoplY.e turner, Peterboro, one flag. 



Mr. S. D. Kendall, Tarpon Springs. Fla., one Hag for cruising rig 

 race instead of for longest independent cruise as previously an- 

 nounced. 



Mrs. E. B. Edwards, Peterboro, one flag. 



Mrs. R. B. Lundy, Peterboro, one Hag. 



Miss Hall, Peterboro, one flag. 



Thirty-one flags are uow promised; forty -five are required. 



Offers of special prizes are received from Mr. Hugh Neilson, a pin, 

 and Mr. John Clindinning, Toronto, spoon-blade paddle. 



Special prizes will be considered and races arranged (according to 

 the suggestions of the donors) by the committee, at the meet. 



Mav 18, 1885. Robert VV. Gibson, Chairman Reg. Com. 



PADDLES AND ROCKERED KEELS. 



Editor Forest and. Stream: 



In your canoeing columns 1 notice that there is still a difference of 

 opinion as to which is best and most powerful, the single or double 

 paddle. I have used both, and think I can say 1 am unprejudiced, 

 though the me of the single paddle has become to me, after years of 

 constant use. as natural as the use of a knife and fork at table or my 

 legs in walking. I think "Single Blade" puts this side of the question 

 yery well; but, I can't quite go as far as he does, for paddling end on 

 and generally straight ahead, the double blade is more powerful. I 

 think simply that there is none of the stroke lost in shifting behind 

 as a rudder to correct the deflection of the canoe's head, and it is 

 ■especially more effective in such canoes an are coming into general 

 use, taking a crew of one in the center or near it, and with a straight 

 keel. But I quite agree with "Single Blade" that no one who has 

 Wielded *be double, and has only cruised in such boats, can have the 

 slightest idea of how one of our rockered-bottomed keelless canoes, 

 such" for instance as the Ontario Company are building in such num- 

 bers, can bs maeeuvered by a skillful hand, kneeling a little aft of 

 the center, with a single -bladed paddle. She can Be made to waltz, 

 'O sideways, backward, forward or diagonallywithout shifting sidesi 

 or even, if necessary, without lifting the paddle from the water. 



No one who has run rapids only in the way I see so often described 

 in the fogs you publish, with a bard bump and a scrape almost as a 

 iVja.'.fer of. course, can have the slightest idea of the perfection to 

 whieh tlie art is brought in the backwoods of Canada, or of the wild 

 -; these craft are. every day brought through without danger to 

 T,vss.cl or crew, A scratch on the smooth varnished bottom is frowned 

 at. A .bump or break needs the most elaborate explanation, and 

 &n Ups nt I s l nirdonahle only among young and green 



hands. But to !>avp p. ifect control of himself and his vessel, the 

 canoeist must of necessity kneaJ, and here with many is the rub, this 

 ixeing a position which is only .comfortable after long practice. The 

 Esquimau wants to be, abie to paddle through rough seas and open 

 water. He sits low iu his craft and in the center, and uses the double 

 paddle aud a decked canoe. The North American Indian cruises 

 through narrow s reams and swift, difficult water. He generally 

 builds a cauoe with considerable sheer, always with a ro/skered bot- 

 tom, and without the slightest approach to a keel, and although I 

 have seen them use oars in rapids, I have never once seen the double 

 paddle. This. I think, shows chat centuries of experience have ena- 

 bled these people to come to precisely the same conclusion as myself. 



A word more on thB subject of rockered keels. Why is it that 

 every one of the otherwise beautiful boats which are built in the 

 Stales and wbieh you sometimes illusrrate-Snake. Dot, Stella Maris, 

 jSunbeam— have always a straight keel, or at least keelson? They are 



THE NEWBURGH MEET. 



Mitof fiorest and Stream: , pj 



Will you kindly menfi.m in your next issue that clubs and individ- 

 uals intending to participate in the Decoration Day meet at PI ,m 

 Point, will confer a favor, as well as facilitate matters wnh our com- 

 mittee, if tiny will notify of their intention, together with a memo- 

 randa of the probable number of men and canoes, what tent space is 

 needed, and their expected time of arrival, and by what route. The 

 Mohicans, of Albanv; Shatiemu.-s, of Sing Sing; and the Brooklyn 

 cluti have already handed in their "notice," and we are waiting now 

 to hear the voices of New York, Kit Kat. Knickerbocker, Bayonne. 

 Rondout. Amsterdam, and other knights of the paddle. I would also 

 add that if either clubs or individuals desire to contribute prizes of 

 any kind, notification of the fact will be appreciated by the com- 

 mittee. Address as regarding these matters as below. 

 Henry A. Harrison, 

 Purser New-burgh Canoe and Boating Association, 

 Lock box 513, Newburgb, N". Y. 

 Newbvrgii, May lti, 1885. 



OUTFITS FOR CAMPING AND EXPLORING. 



VTTE extract from a valuable paper on the subject of exploration 

 VV and outfits, bv Major-General the Hon. W. Fielding, published 

 the Journal of Ihe Society of Arts, some directions which are of 

 special value to canoeists as' well as to all campers. Though some, of 

 the suggestions do not apply to travel by water, they are of sufficient 

 value to warrant their reproduction, as they may be of value to the 

 other readers of Forest and Stream: 



Stores.— These must be subdivided under the headings of (a), 

 provisions for the mouth: (6), materials for obtaining food, or for 

 offense and defense; (c), materials for facilitating the locomotion. 



In the choice of provisions, care must be taken to select such 

 articles as »re wholesome, nourishing, small in bulk and not liable to 

 deteriorate by keeping. There must also Be variety, so as to promote 

 health, and a proper proportion of such articles of consumption as 

 would diminish the risk of scurvy. Of meat the best sort is preserved 

 meat, in tins. There is very little to choose between that preserved in 

 Australia and that preset ved in America, north and south. The tins 

 should not be too large, aud they should Be rectangular and not 

 cylindrical in shape. Essence of beef (Brand's or Liebig's, in tins or 

 iii skins) is a most valuable form of meat. Flour and oatmeal should 

 be packed in block tin boxes of various sizes, containing from lib. to 

 41bs. each. Sugar should be cane sugar, powdered and packed in 

 J<J|h. rectangular canisters. Tea— the best for the purpose is Gouu- 

 drv's compressed tea; it is manufactured in tablets of J41b. in weight, 

 and subdivided like chocolate, tablets, into eight portions, one of 

 which is ample for tea for three or four people. Being wrapped in 

 lead paper, it stands any climate, aud I have known it to keep good 

 for live years. Salt should be kept in stone or thick glass jars, with 

 screw or cork-lined stoppers. Lard should always be taken, and 

 should be kept iu stone jars, capable of being rendered airtight. 

 There is an excellent form of compressed and dried vegetable tablet 

 manufactured in France; and there is also a preparation of dried 

 potato, in powder. No expedition should be without these to keep 

 off scurvy, that terrible scourge and bugbear of ah explorers. 

 Gineer, peppers, red and Black, should be carried in thick glass 

 pickle bottles, with air-tight glass stoppers, edged with cork. Brandy 

 for medicinal purposes should be carried in small wooden kegs, 

 covered with thick felt, and with a locked covering to their bungs. 

 A provision of lime juice should be similarly carried in kegs of 

 (liferent sizes. There should be several spare kegs of the same 

 d scription, kept constantly filled with fresh wafer. In addition to 

 t lis provision of water, each, animal should have a canvas water-bag 

 slung bv a strap round his neck. These bags keep the water cool, 

 and each should nave the neck of an old so^a water bottle sewn in'o 

 the orifice used for filling it; the vessel can thus be easily used, with- 

 out detaching it from the animal carrying it. Water-bags on tho 

 same principle, only much larger, are made of well-seasoned leather, 

 and are slung by straps aud iron rings on to a pack saddle. At first 

 the water has a nasty flavor; but the bags soon cease to affect the 

 taste of the water, and are iudispensable on long waterless marches 

 Jn a hot climate. 



While on the subject of water, it may, perhaps, not be out of place 

 to impress upon you the necessity in observing the greatest care in 

 the selection, a nd , 'generally speaking, the after treatment of water. 

 As a general rule, the only Water whieb can be drunk with safety, 

 without fear of evil consequences, is that which springs directly out 

 of the ground, from rooks, or which is obtained from a permanent 

 running stream, the bed of which is not muddy, and on the banks of 

 whieb there is not an exuberant vegetation. Even in the ease of 

 water issuing from rocks, care must be taken to avoid water issuiug 

 from copper or lead-bearing rocks, In these cases a small quantity 

 of sulphuric acid would at once detect the presence of the mineral 

 iu dangerous quantities, as trie water would become discolored. 



In most countries subject to crought, the water requires special 

 treatment; mechanical fibration is seldom practicable, or even safe 

 I have come across it as thick as pea soup, and sometimes covered 

 with a growth of green or red weeds. In such cases, the first opera- 

 tion is that of skimming with a skimmer made out of a forked stick, 

 with a pocket handkerchief or other piece of linen stretched tightly 

 between the forks. This done, scatter a pinch of powdered alum 

 into Ihe vessel in which you have collected the skimmed water; this 

 wall cause a great deal of i he matter in suspension to precipitate. 

 Then pour the water slowly into a .filter filled with the charcoal of 

 your last night's camp fire", mixed with any sand or fine gravel which 

 may be obtainable, and which j r ou have previously washed. It must 

 the'u be boiled, and skimmed while simmering, and only when no 

 more scum arises on the water is it really tit or safe to use. It is a 

 good plan always to fill the kettle -or, still' better, the cooking pot— 

 with water the last thing at night, and put it at the edge of the camp 

 fire to simmer (not to boil) and always to fill up the water kegs aud 

 bottles from what is left over from each morning's cooking. It is 

 also a good rule never to drink plain cojd water in the tropics. Each 

 man should carry in his pocket half a handful of oatpjeal, and put a 

 pinch into his pannikin of water when he fills it for drinking, 



I once traveled 1,400 miles across a portion of the center of Aus« 

 tralia, and began my journey after a drought which had then lasted 

 eighteen months, and which only broke, up the day I reached the sea 

 coast. It was only by the strict enforcement of these precautions 

 that (under Providence) 1 never had a. case of illness from fever or 

 from dysentery. Personally I always carried in my pocket a few 

 ••thirst Jogeages," which are, I believe, nothing except a compressed 

 form of Lamplough's Pyretic Saline. 



Before closing tlie enumeration of the provisions de bouche, it is 

 well to add a list of the medicines and surgical instruments necessary 

 to every expedition. Rhubarb, essence of ginger, about 100 pills of 

 colocyuth and henbane, about double the quantity quinine pills, made 

 up in small doses of three grains each, some opium pills, a couple of 

 bottles of Dover's powders, four bottles of sweet spirits of nitre, 

 about 100 pills of podophy llin in small doses, camphor and chlorodyne. 

 Tim;j lancets, two abscess knives, two catheters, two enemas, some 

 surgical needles and some silver wire thread for sewing wounds, a 

 silver probe and t^'p vein or artery forceps, a syringe v.ith various 

 nozzles for various uses. Sticking piaster of various sorts, and some 

 prepared lint and medicated yvooi, and some vaseline, carbolic acid 

 and carbolic soap. All the medicines should be in glass-stoppered 



bottles, the stoppers having been lubricated with pure glycerine 

 previous to Insertion, The medicines, etc., should be divided into at 

 least three portions, so that each wagon, or each detached party, 

 should have a complete set of everything. There is no greater 

 mistake than to have everything in one medicine chest. Al! boxes 

 ■should be avoided, as iu a very damp or a very dry climate boxes 

 are apt to come to pieces with the rough handling that every package 

 gets at the hands of those Who often have to do the packing and un- 

 pack ins of animals two or three times each day. 



Claihinq.— Take as little as possible when starting from England, 

 as you can get most articles necessary for explorers at the place 

 from which (lie wagons would make their start. Of personal attire, 

 the following are those which 1 consider snlllcient for most expedi- 

 tious: Four shirts made of gray flannel, with two buttons on each 

 wristband, t<» admit of them being worn loose or tight. Four long 

 merino drawers, double seated and double down the inside of the 

 thP'hs. Four pair of thick knitted woolen long stockings, Two 

 cholera belts, one of knitted worsted, the other of flannel about a 

 quarter of a yard wide and three yards in length, to be wound round 

 the body Or fastened with a safer v brooch. Six silk pocket handker- 

 chiefs (White) and of the Ihiekesl and best quality. They are useful 

 sometimes when traveling in the very early morning, to serve, as a 

 curtain against the sun's rays, which often at that hour strike with 

 great force on the nape or side of the neck under the h it, A Norfolk 

 jacket of good woolen serge or light tweed, made double-breasted, 

 so as to be worn either open with the lappels buttoned back, or 

 buttoned across double over the chest and stomach. It should be 

 made like a garment known by miners as a jumper, not cut in at the 

 waist, but kept m at the waist by a belt. This belt should be made 

 of two pieces of soft leather, about 2Biin. wide, and stitched together 

 at the edges so as to admit of dollars or other coins being kept in the 

 belt and slipped in at either end, and prevented from falling out by a 

 flap and button at each end. 



If a sword has to be carried, if is best carried fastened on to the side 

 of the catitle of the saddle bv a round strap and button of leather. If a 

 revolver has to be worn, it is best carried in a frog supported by a 

 webbing belt over the right shoulder, which should be kept in its 

 place by the waistbelt. 



The best hats are of gray felt, of a helmet shape, with means for 

 ventilation round the edge and at the top. They should be provided 

 with a chin strap, to be worn when riding fast or against a strong 

 wind. The best boots are those known as the Paliser boot, They 

 reach nearly to the knee, and are. laced up for about six inches from 

 below the instep, so that the boot can be always easily got on and off 

 wdiile remaining watertight. 1 prefer those made of porpoise hide to 

 any other, as they are lighter and more supple in wear. 



Dogskin driving gloves should always be taken, as their use 

 prevents sun boils, blisters and many sores arising from thorns, etc., 

 on a journey. Breeche-s should be made very loose, except just 

 below the knee, where they should he fastened with a buckle and 

 strap, or tied with thongs of poi poise hide. A binding whip with a 

 hammer handle and a long brown leather lash is always useful, and 

 is a necessity where there are many spare horses to be driven along 

 with the party. 



Camp Necessaries.— India, rubber buckets, two to each wagon, 

 should always be carried, to be used for watering the horses while, 

 in harness. ' Palkec hammocks, made of waterproofed canvas, are 

 the best; and most portable form of bedstead, and it is always un- 

 advisable to sleep on the level of the ground. The blankets should 

 be loosely sewn toget her round three sides so as to form bags. This 

 plan saves many a sleepless night. Moreover, it keeps snakes from 

 getting in between the blankets. A « aterproof sheet, with ev es, 

 round the edges, is most useful, as when thrown over the ridge pole 

 of the hammock it cau be lathed to the sides of the hammock, and 

 serve as a complete sheltei even in the heaviest storms of rain and 

 wind. A light folding chair, or if this be too large, a beach feat with 

 a back, is a great luxury, and is almost, a necessity in wet ground. 



We have now to consider the selection of such materials as are 

 necessary to procure supplies of fresh provisions to protect life. 

 First and foremost are guns. These should be breechloaders of the 

 simplest possible construction, and of 12 bore. Eich gun should be 

 provided with 20 steel cartridges. These are really indestructible 

 and are very easily reloaded and rpcapped; and having a female 

 screw turned for a distance of an inch inside the cartridge, there is 

 no difficulty in making the wads to keep in position. 



For ammunition, shot of all sizes should be taken, the larger slugs 

 for use against man or large animals. Pow-der should be carried in 

 two small copper magazines, each containing about. Tibs of powder 

 in half-pound canisters, fitting Into the outer cylindrical copper case. 

 These canisters should have screw tops with leather washers to them. 

 The canisters should always be kept full so 'ong as there i« any 

 powder in them. When a canister cannot be filled with powder, it 

 should be filled up with cotton, wool, rags, or even crumpled up soft 

 paper. It must be remembered that any expedition is liable to be 

 reduced to pack animals only, and then the attrition is so great thai 

 everything which can rub, soon gets rubbed to the finest dust. 



When it is known that there are rivers or lakes.it : s well worth 

 while to take a casting net, or even a small seine net of strong tanned 

 twine. A large provision of hooks and fishing lines of all sizes should 

 always be taken, as they are not only useful m the obtaining of a 

 change of diet, but are very valuable as an article of barter with 

 natives. 



For personal defense the best weapon is the largest sized Coif's 

 revolver, with a stock which can be used, at the shoulder, and is 

 detachable. When on horseback it is best carried in a bucket, like 

 our cavalry carry their carbines. A good one shoots wdth wonderful 

 accuracy up to 100yds. A hunting knife, of a pattern of my owe 1 

 have found the best, as it is light, and yet strong enough to cut away 

 a fairly large branch. The sheath is of bamboo, and there is room in 

 it for a knife and fork of steel, flat, with wooden handles screwed on 

 each side of the shaft. The blade of the hunting knife is made light, 

 by having tw T o deep grooves cut out of the thickness near the center 

 of the blade, so that, while the blade is made lighter, it is also thereby 

 rendered much stiffer. 



As a rule, from ten to fifteen miles may be considered an average 

 march in a new country, in which there are no physical difficulties. 

 I have, however, more than once, only been able to progress two 

 miles in the day : while in order to reach water 1 once had to make, 

 in three successive days, marches of forty-one, forty and forty-three 

 miles. These were, however, made with pack animals, and without 

 wagons. Before concluding this paper, it may be interesiiug to 

 most of ycu to hear a few remarks on the manner in which explora- 

 tion for water is generally conducted. Experience, and even common 

 sense, tells us that in a hot or a dry climate, animals and birds are 

 but very seldom found far from water towards sunset, and that at 

 sunrise they generally leave the vicinity of water on their search 

 after food. Observations as to the direction of the flight of birds, 

 and especially of all the parrot tribe and the carrion birds, will 

 generally lead to the discovery of water, 



In almost every country there are some descriptions of shrubs and 

 trees which wil| hot grow exet pt jn the vjoiuity of water; and even 

 where this water may not be obtainable °" { he'snrf toe, it can, under 

 such conditions, be found by sinking in suitable spots in the beds of 

 the streams where those shrubs or trees are found. I once traveled 

 for three days down the bed of a river which was quite dry. and yet 

 by sinking from six to ten feet in the bed, a suffplent supply was 

 obtained. It seems to be a provision of nature that in very hot ana 

 dry countries the streams almost invariably run for considerable 

 distances under ground. With a very rudimentary knowledge of 

 geology, and by the observance of the natural signs of water peculiar 

 to each country, travelers may. and do, often find water where an 

 unobservant man might die of thirst. 



"CANOE HANDLING." 



THE literature of canoeing, both English and American, is already 

 quite extensive, covering all phases of the sport, but. it is inac- 

 cessible to the general canoeist, being scattered through many books 

 papers and magazines, atid even if attainable, there is much that is 

 useless as well as out of date, and that would mislead any but an ex- 

 pert. None of the books specially devoted to canoeing have answered 

 that purpose, dealing either with some special feature, as building, 

 or being mere accounts of cruises, and of lirtle use to the, novice, or 

 in fact, lo the more experienced canoeist. In "Woodcraft" and 

 "Cauoe Building," the Forest, and Stream Publishing Company have 

 given to canoeists two valuable aids hi certain departments of 'canoe- 

 ing, and to them chey have just added, in "Canoe Handling," a book 

 that will be as indispensable to the general canoeist, either old hand 

 or novice, as the first two have already become to the specialists. 



'those who have seen the skipper of the Dot unpack his, canoe, and 

 have examined the vast number of useful and fancy articles that he 

 has contrived to carry in a very limited space, will not be surprised 

 at the amount of really practical info matron that Mr.Yaux has 

 compactly stowed between the covers of his book: information of 

 equal value to the historian of canoeing, the novice, the paddler, the 

 sailor, and to all who have any interest in boats propelled by paddles. 

 The widely different meanings attached to the word can ie in vc,i jousi 

 localities makes a definition or description of all oanoss a very 

 difficult matter, but the author has gone at once to the beginning, 

 and after a few w S! rds descriptive of modern canoeing, what toe sport 

 is and for whom it i- best fitted, he starts with the most primitive 

 types, the Indian birch and the Esquimau kayak, showing the essen- 

 tial features of the canoe; and tneuce traces the development of 

 the Rob Boy, the Nautilus aud the many later models; making clear 

 :oally the differences of build arid model so perplexing 

 to the beginner, and also tlie many advantages of the eanoe over 



