

the outer end. Each native carries tin- 
der and a roll of rattan fibre in his 
fibre bag. Slipping the rattan thong 
through the cleft in the log he stands 
on it and saws away with the rattan 
ends in his hands. By the time the 
rattan has worn to the breaking point 
enough charred fibre from the log has 
collected in the cleft, smoking and afire. 
To this he adds tinder of palm bark 
and blows to a flame. This apparatus 
is illustrated in Fig. 3. 
BARSE MILLER. 

Waterproofing Tents 
[DISSOLVE one-half pound of sugar 
of lead and powdered alum in a 
pucket of rain water, and pour the so- 
lution into a large tub. Soak your tent 
for twenty-four hours, and then hang 
it up to dry instead of wringing it dry. 
Rain will hang to it in globules, but 
won’t go through the cloth. It will also 
prevent mildew. 

Waterproof for Boots 
Wes together 6 ounces mutton suet, 
6 ounces beeswax and 4 ounces 
resin, and add 1 pint linseed oil. 

Waterproof Bags 
AKE them of unbleached muslin, 
sewn in a lap seam, with a double 
row of stitches. When sewn they are 
dipped in water and slightly shaken 
to remove the drops, and 
then, while wet, a mix- 
ture of equal parts of 
boiled oil, raw oil and tur- 
pentine is applied to the 
outside with a _ brush. 
This takes a week to be- 
come thoroughly dry, and 
then another coat is put 
on without dampening the 
cloth, and if a little liquid 
drier is added to the mix- 
ture this coat will dry in 
four or five days. They 
can be made in all sizes, 
being closed at the mouth 
with a draw-string, and 
are excellent receptacles for various 
articles of food, sugar, coffee, bread, 
etc., and for clothing and blankets. 

Waterproofing Linen 
AKE a solution of sulphate of 
alumina in ten times its weight of 
water, and a soap bath of the follow- 
ing composition: One quart of light 
colored resin and one part of crystal- 
lized soda (sal soda) and boiled in ten 
parts of water until dissolved. The 
resin soap is precipitated with half 
part of table salt, and is subsequently 
dissolved along with one part of white 
curd soap in thirty parts of hot wa- 
It should be put in wooden tubs 
On made-up articles the two 
ter. 
for use. 
LiTit PEE ee 
solutions can be applied with a brush 
and then rinsed off. 

To Protect Against Snow 
Blindness 
dl Baae Esquimaux of the far north 
guard against snow blindness. 
Construct a.glare shield as follows: 
procure two small pieces of wood and 
fit them together so there will be only 
a narrow slit between. These may be 
placed over the eyes like spectacles and 
fastened with a deerskin thong (a com- 
mon cord will do) behind the head. 
The range of vision will then be very 
narrow, but all the glare will be shut 
out. 
The Esquimaux and Indians also are 
accustomed to darken the skin all 
about the eyes with soot. This miti- 
gates the glare of the wide, white snow 
fields, and is a good hint to remember 
in case glare shields are forgotten. If 
anyone has had a touch of snow blind- 
ness, he will know that it is a danger 
to be dreaded and guarded against. 

Handy Tool 
AVE a pair of blacksmith’s pliers 
12 to 18 inches long. It is a good 
poker for the fire, a gripper for the 
handleless frying-pan and hot dishes 
of all kinds, can be used as a hammer, 
a wrench, and for many other pur- 
poses. 

729 
