- Should all be hermetically sealed, and great care should be
observed in soldering the tin cases. - This is frequently neglected, and
the result of careless soldering is ruin to all biscuits, flour, sago,
macaroni, &c.
Ammunition. - All cartridges should be taken from England loaded; and for
private use they should be hermetically sealed in boxes containing one
hundred each if small, or fifty if large.
Five hundred snider cartridges, in teak boxes lined with soldered tin,
weigh 64 lbs. each, and can be carried on the journey by one native.
Casks of wood are unsuited for African travel; small beetles perforate
them. Galvanized iron flattened kegs are useful for carrying water
through the desert. For camels which carry four casks they should
contain ten gallons each; for mules, eight gallons.
Plates, &c. - All plates, cups, saucers, dishes, &c., should be enamelled
on metal.
Saucepans, kettles, &. - should be copper.
Drinking cups should be silver, to contain one pint or more, and to fit
into each other.
A tankard with a very strong hinge to the lid is invaluable to keep out
flies, but the servants will probably wrench the lid off.
Boxes. - Do not attempt to spare money in boxes. They should be of the
stoutest block tin, or of copper, well painted. Tradesmen are apt to do
you in the hinges.
All boxes should lock with brass locks. Shun padlocks. A master-key
should open all your boxes, even should you have a thousand. Each box
should have a pierced metal label slung with wire upon each iron handle.
Painted numbers quickly wear out.
My boxes measured twenty-two inches long, twelve inches deep, fourteen
broad. These were quite invaluable throughout the expedition.
Guns and rifles must depend upon individual tastes. Never possess such
an antiquated affair as a muzzle-loader.
Hollow bullets are quite useless for thick-skinned animals. I like No.
10 rifles, with chambers to contain a cartridge with ten drachms No. 6
powder. Such a rifle must weigh fifteen pounds to shoot accurately.
Axes. - All axes, picks, hoes, &c., should have OVAL holes, but NEARLY
circular, to receive the handles. Natives will break any civilized
method of fitting.
Every soldier should carry a very small, long-bladed, but narrow hatchet
of soft steel.
Feathers. - Preserve all feathers of game, taking care to strip them from
the stems, for making pillows.
The large swing-feathers of geese, bustards, &c., make dusting-brushes,
fans, quill toothpicks &c.
Hale's rockets. - Those which explode are invaluable. Six and
three-pounders are large enough, and are handy to carry.
Norton's pumps were of no use except in sandy or gravelly soil, and they
did not equal my expectations.
Blue lights are quite invaluable if fitted with percussion caps. They
should be packed in a strong tin box, with partitions to contain a
dozen; to be placed near your bed at night.
