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other not, so that in the left barrel bullet cartridges can, if necessary, be used, as 
sometimes when one is out after guinea-fowl, one might meet a lion or an antelope. 
The best kinds of shot are Swan shot; “A. A. A. ” ; No. i ; No. 2 ; and No. 5. No. 5 is 
useful for pigeons and similar birds; as a rule however most African birds that the 
average man wants to shoot will succumb to little less in size than the No. 2 shot. It will 
be found that duck require either No. 2 or A.A.A., and Swan shot is useful for very big 
water birds or small mammals. For the average individual the best rifle is the ‘450 single 
barrelled. Some people speak highly of the Lee-Metford, but though very deadly if 
the bullet comes in contact with the bone, its cartridge does not seem to have the same 
stopping effect where it merely pierces through the fleshy parts. A Martini-Henry is a 
very useful weapon. Elephant rifles are quite a special subject in themselves and the 
enquirer is referred to the various articles which have appeared on the subject in the Field , 
or have been written by Mr. Selous and other authorities. The revolver is not, as a rule, 
a very useful weapon, except for accidentally shooting oneself. 
7. Plenty of books should be taken for reading. The traveller will miss books 
terribly if he is much alone in the evenings. Messrs. Mudie sell at a very cheap rate 
library books that have been some three months in circulation and all the great pub¬ 
lishers nowadays issue cheap “ Colonial ” editions of all new and striking books. Maps 
of B. C. A. can be obtained from Mr. J. G. Bartholomew, Edinburgh, and Messrs. 
Stanford, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross. 
8. Boxes.—No leather portmanteaus or wooden boxes should be taken, as they are 
liable to the attacks of white ants, and also suffer from the damp climate. All boxes 
should be of tin. The Army and Navy Stores and Messrs. Silver thoroughly understand 
the kind wanted. No boxes should be large and no packages should weigh more than 
55 lbs. on account of the porterage on men’s heads. The leather valise or dressing bag 
is useful and permissible. One or more rugs should certainly be taken, and a thoroughly 
waterproof “ hold-all ” is a very useful thing. Beds and tents are best obtained locally, 
as the right kinds are for sale at the various stores; but if it is desired to take one’s own 
tent out then Messrs. Benjamin Edgington, of Eondon Bridge, know exactly what is 
required for Central Africa, and can be thoroughly depended upon. The same firm 
supplies excellent camp furniture. I especially recommend their folding camp tables. 
A good dispatch-box is very useful, and Messrs. Silver, of Cornhill, supply very good 
articles of this description. 
8. Sketching materials.—If the traveller intends to sketch or to photograph he should 
get his materials in London, as they are amongst the few things that cannot be purchased 
in British Central Africa. As regards sketching materials, Messrs. Kemp and Co., near 
Victoria Station, S.W., have for a long time past been in the habit of supplying me with 
what is required for Africa, and thoroughly understand the subject; and their materials 
have always proved to be suited to the exigencies of the climate. 
9. Provisions of all kinds are much better purchased at the stores in British Central 
Africa; almost the same may be said for drugs, but a small private medicine chest is not 
a bad thing, and can be procured from Messrs. Burroughs and AVellcome, of Holborn. 
I think this constitutes almost all the things which the average traveller should 
burden himself with before leaving England for British Central Africa. It must be 
remembered that the better extreme to go to of the two is to buy too little rather than 
too much, as many more things can be procured locally than one would generally 
suppose, and the prices at the stores in British Central Africa, compared to Matabeleland 
and the inner parts of South Africa, are very reasonable, on account of the cheapness 
of transport and the low Customs duties. Moreover it is not until a man is already 
established in Central Africa that he realises his own wants. He is then able to write 
home and order such things as he specially requires. 
