ismailia-第131节
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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。
Lamps。Should burn either oil or candles。
Burning glasses are very useful if really good。 The inner bark of the
fig…tree; well beaten and dried in the sun; makes excellent tinder。
Mosquito gaiters or stockings should be wide; of very soft leather; to
draw over the foot and leg quite up to the thigh joint。 These are a
great comfort when sitting during the evening。
Tanned goods。All tents; awnings; sails; nets; lines; &c。; should be
tanned; to preserve them in African climates。
Books。All journals and note…books should be tinted paper; to preserve
the eyes from the glare; which is very trying when writing in the open
air upon white paper。
Seeds。Should be simply packed in brown paper parcels sewn up in
canvas; and should never be hermetically sealed。
Blood。When meat is scarce do not waste the blood。 Clean out the large
intestine of an animal if far from camp。 This will contain a
considerable quantity; and can be easily secured by a ligature at each
end。
Fish can be preserved without salt; by smoke。 They should be split down
the back (not the belly) from head to tail; and be smoked upon a
framework of sticks immediately when caught。 Four forked sticks; driven
into the ground as uprights to support two parallel poles; crossed with
bars will form a framework about three feet high; the fire is beneath。
All fish and flesh is thus preserved by the natives when hunting。
Salt。When efflorescent on the surface of the soil; scrape with a spoon
or shell; and collect it with as little sand as possible。 Cut a hole two
inches square in the bottom of a large earthen pot; cover the hole with
a little straw; then fill the pot with the salt and sand。 Pour water
slowly over this; and allow it to filter into a receiver below。 Boil the
product until the water has evaporated; then spread the wet salt upon a
cloth to dry in the sun。
Potash。If you have no salt; treat wood ashes or those of grass in the
same way。
Oil。All seeds or nuts that will produce oil should be first roasted
like coffee; then ground fine upon a flat stone; and boiled with water。
The oil then rises to the surface; and is skimmed off。 Unless the nuts
or seeds are roasted; the boiling water will not extract the oil。
Crutches。To make impromptu crutches to assist wounded men upon a
march; select straight branches that grow with a fork。 Cut them to the
length required; and lash a small piece of wood across the fork。 This;
if wound with rag; will fit beneath the arm; and make a good crutch。
In this manner I brought my wounded men along on the march from Masindi。
Tamarinds。Whenever possible; collect this valuable fruit。 Take
off the shell; and press the tamarinds into lumps of about two
pounds。 They will keep in this simple form for many months; and
are invaluable in cases of fever…cooling when drunk cold; and
sudorific when taken hot。 If taken in quantity; they are aperient。
End