The Mail-Cart, Bida. ([p. 280])
I will make no apology for having discussed this subject at such length, for I know, from personal experience, what an immense difference to one’s comfort a really practical chop-box makes; it is, therefore, worth describing in detail, as such an article cannot be bought ready-made. It is only necessary to add that the dimensions should be about 32 in. × 14 in. × 14 in., and the weight should not exceed 50 to 55 lb.
Don’t forget to take the indispensable mincing-machine; if necessary at headquarters, it is doubly so in the bush, where you frequently have to eat meat an hour or so after it has been killed. A Berkefeld filter is the best, easily carried, simple and quick to work, beside being simplicity itself to clean and fix up: there is another, on the foot-pump principle, which saves labour, or at least exertion, but its extra weight is a great drawback.
We will suppose, you are able to provide yourselves with two 80 lb. Regulation Officer’s tents; Government supplies one, and you would do well to bring a second as a private possession: one tent is quite too small for two people, and it is a pity to lose so much comfort for a detail so easily carried out. Have them pitched one behind the other, the front one to serve for meals and daily occupation, the back one as sleeping quarters. You can always get a small, roofless attachment, with matting walls, erected in a few minutes, at the back of the sleeping tent, to act as a bathroom. At times, when we felt fairly secure from possible rain, we pitched the outer fly of the front tent in front again; it is quite a simple matter, with the aid of a few extra poles, supplied from the village, and extends one’s quarters delightfully, for a stay of any length, if the camp is in a shady spot—otherwise, of course, it makes the tents warm.
For camp furniture, none is better than the ‘X’ patent. The beds are most comfortable, and are by no means the Japanese puzzle that some camp beds are: there are excellent little tables, that can be put together in a couple of minutes, and a canvas basin and bath of the same pattern. With reference to the bath, I may say, that we have found it more convenient to carry with us a regular tin, travelling bath, with cover and strap, containing a wicker lining; it is so immensely useful for holding all kinds of odd things: an enamelled washing-basin, fitted with a canvas or leather cover and a strap, is also a great comfort, as, inside it, the whole of your washing paraphernalia travels, and it is such a joy to find everything you want under your hand, when your bath is temptingly ready—the towels having been thrown over the bathroom wall to sun themselves till you are ready for them.
Two really comfortable chairs of the ordinary, canvas, deck-chair pattern are most desirable, in addition to the regulation, little sit-up armchair affairs; a lounge is what one wants after a long, hot march. We have found it very useful to bring out, ‘on our own,’ an extra, small ‘X’ table, and a second armchair; the table being precious to a degree as a dressing-table.
When the chop boxes are neatly ranged round the sides of your tent, and the furniture, above mentioned, opened out, you will not care to fill up any more space with unnecessary articles. But never allow yourself to be uncomfortable for the want of things you are certain to miss every day: it will spoil half your pleasure, and it is well worth the cost of an extra carrier, if necessary, for the purpose. I fancy that every one, after one tour in the bush, will find that experience teaches that a few things taken, were useless, and some left behind were sorely wanted, and a little judicious sorting and arrangement will ensure the second trip being far more comfortable, without in the least increasing the bulk of your personnel.
Personal clothing can be carried in tin uniform cases, and it should be reduced as far as is compatible with the foregoing axiom. I have found that a touring wardrobe, consisting of a habit skirt, boots, etc., two coats, one short holland skirt, a plain tea-gown, two changes of underclothing, a few muslin stocks, one pair of thick boots, and, instead of slippers, long, loose, Hausa boots, can be easily packed into a fair-sized uniform case. I always take, too, a folding Panama hat, for wearing in camp (one marches, of course, in a solar topee); a very small dressing-case, which is a great comfort, as it keeps all one’s toilet necessaries together; a writing-case, tiny work-box, and sketching materials, all packed in the one box.