I have only one or two more suggestions to offer before closing this chapter: the first and most important may not sound attractive, but it is absolutely necessary—to put all the clothing you intend wearing the next day under your pillow at night. Indeed, it is the only way to ensure its being dry, the damp penetrates everywhere, and at 5 a.m. one does not feel disposed to walk about, lightly clothed, unlocking boxes, and extracting one’s garments.

Another small point, which is useful to know and act upon, is, that a very small quantity of powdered alum will clear dirty, brackish water very quickly; all the solid matter sinks to the bottom, and the clear water can be poured off, thus saving the unpleasant necessity for a muddy-looking, uninviting bath: a few crystals of permanganate of potash are rather nice in a bath, too, when the water is unpleasant to smell and look at.

On long marches it is worth while trying to cultivate a taste for Kola nuts: they are marvellously refreshing and stimulating, and the clean, bitter flavour is rather delightful once one is accustomed to it. I have, often and often, staved off the pangs of hunger, thirst and fatigue, with a Kola nut, the sharpness tempered by a piece of chocolate munched along with it.

For the benefit of your servants and carriers, a few simple remedies, easily obtained from the medical officers, should be taken into the bush; they are tabulated below, with a list of stores. This last, it must be remembered, is confined severely to necessaries; it can be supplemented by all kinds of luxuries, such as tinned sardines, cheese, butter, potted meat, etc., always bearing in mind that the total transport allowed by Government, at present to each official on the march, is an average of twelve to fourteen loads of fifty-six pounds each.

Provisions necessary for Two People for One Month

Medical Stores