the land of footprints-第65章
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hought…that he is such a helpless mollusc that it requires a small regiment to get him safely around the country！
Both means are perfectly legitimate； of course； and neither view is open to criticism。 All either man is justified in saying is that he； personally； wouldn't get much fun out of doing it the other way。 As a matter of fact； human nature generally goes beyond its justifications and is prone to criticise。 The Englishman waxes a trifle caustic on the subject of 〃pigging it〃； and the American indulges in more than a bit of sarcasm on the subject of 〃being led about Africa like a dog on a string。〃
By some such roundabout mental process as the above the American comes to the conclusion that he need not necessarily adopt the other fellow's method of playing this game。 His own method needs modification； but it will do。 He ventures to leave out the tables and easy chair； takes a camp stool and eats off a chop box。 To the best of his belief his health does not suffer from this。 He gets on with a camper's allowance of plate； cup and cutlery； and so cuts out a load and a half of assorted kitchen utensils and table ware。 He even does without a tablecloth and napkins！ He discards the lime juice and siphons； and purchases a canvas evaporation bag to cool the water。 He fires one gunbearer； and undertakes the formidable physical feat of carrying one of his rifles himself。 And； above all； he modifies that grub list。 The purchase of waterproof bags gets rid of a lot of tin： the staple groceries do quite as well as London fancy stuff。 Golden syrup takes the place of all the miscellaneous jams； marmalades and other sweets。 The canned goods go by the board。 He lays in a stock of dried fruit。 At the end； he is possessed of a grub list but little different from that of his Rocky Mountain trips。 Some few items he has cut down； and some he has substituted； but bulk and weight are the same。 For his three months' trip he has four or five chop boxes all told。
And then suddenly he finds that thus he has made a reduction all along the line。 Tent load； two men； grub and kitchen； five men； personal； one man； bed； one man； miscellaneous； one or two。 There is now no need for headmen and askaris to handle this little lot。 Twenty more to carry food for the men…he is off with a quarter of the number of his first 〃modest safari。〃
You who are sportsmen and are not going to Africa； as is the case with most； will perhaps read this； because we are always interested in how the other fellow does it。 To the few who are intending an exploration of the dark continent this concentration of a year's experience may be valuable。 Remember to sleep off the ground； not to starve yourself； to protect yourself from the sun； to let negroes do all hard work but marching and hunting。 Do these things your own way； using your common…sense on how to get at it。 You'll be all right。
That； I conceive； covers the case。 The remainder of your equipment has to do with camp affairs； and merely needs listing。 The question here is not of the sort to get； but of what to take。 The tents； cooking affairs； etc。； are well adapted to the country。 In selecting your tent； however； you will do very well to pick out one whose veranda fly reaches fairly to the ground； instead of stopping halfway。
1 tent and ground sheet 1 folding cot and cork mattress； 1 pillow； 3 single blankets 1 combined folding bath and ashstand （〃X〃 brand） 1 camp stool 3 folding candle lanterns 1 gallon turpentine 3 lbs。 alum 1 river rope Sail needles and twine 3 pangas （native tools for chopping and digging） Cook outfit （select these yourself； and cut out the extras） 2 axes （small） Plenty laundry soap Evaporation bag 2 pails 10 yards cotton cloth （〃Mericani〃）
These things； your food； your porters' outfits and what trade goods you may need are quite sufficient。 You will have all you want； and not too much。 If you take care of yourself； you ought to keep in good health。 Your small outfit permits greater mobility than does that of the English cousin； infinitely less nuisance and expense。 Furthermore； you feel that once more you are 〃next to things；〃 instead of 〃being led about Africa like a dog on a string。〃
APPENDIX V。 THE AMERICAN IN AFRICA
WHAT HE SHOULD TAKE
Before going to Africa I read as many books as I could get hold of on the subject； some of them by Americans。 In every case the authors have given a chapter detailing the necessary outfit。 Invariably they have followed the Englishman's ideas almost absolutely。 Nobody has ventured to modify those ideas in any essential manner。 Some have deprecatingly ventured to remark that it is as well to leave out the tinned carfare…if you do not like carfare； but that is as far as they care to go。 The lists are those of the firms who make a business of equipping caravans。 The heads of such firms are generally old African travellers。 They furnish the equipment their customers demand； and as English sportsmen generally all demand the same thing； the firms end by issuing a printed list of essentials for shooting parties in Africa； including carfare。 Travellers follow the lists blindly； and later copy them verbatim into their books。 Not one has thought to empty out the whole bag of tricks； to examine them in the light of reason； and to pick out what a man of American habits； as contrasted to one of English habits； would like to have。 This cannot be done a priori； it requires the test of experience to determine how to meet； in our own way； the unusual demands of climate and conditions。
And please note； when the heads of these equipment firms； these old African travellers； take the field for themselves； they pay no attention whatever to their own printed lists of 〃essentials。〃
Now； premising that the English sportsman has； by many years' experience； worked out just what he likes to take into the field； and assuring you solemnly that his ideas are not in the least the ideas of American sportsman； let us see if we cannot do something for ourselves。
At present the American has either to take over in toto the English idea； which is not adapted to him； and is…TO HIM…a nuisance； or to go it blind； without experience except that acquired in a temperate climate； which is dangerous。 I am not going to copy out the English list again； even for comparison。 I have not the space； and if curious enough； you can find it in any book on modern African travel。 Of course I realize well that few Americans go to Africa； but I also realize well that the sportsman is a crank； a wild and eager enthusiast over items of equipment anywhere。 He…and I am thinking emphatically of him…would avidly devour the details of the proper outfit for the gentle art of hunting the totally extinct whiffenpoof。
Let us begin； first of all； with：
Personal Equipment Clothes。 On the top of your head you must have a sun helmet。 Get it of cork； not of pith。 The latter has a habit of melting unobtrusively about your ears when it rains。 A helmet in brush is the next noisiest thing to a circus band； so it is always well to have； also； a double terai。 This is not something to eat。 It is a wide felt hat； and then another wide felt hat on top of that。 The vertical…rays…of…the…tropical…sun （pronounced as one word to save time after you have heard and said it a thousand times） are supposed to get tangled and lost somewhere between the two hats。 It is not； however； a good contraption to go in all day when the sun is strong。
As underwear you want the lightest Jaeger wool。 Doesn't sound well for tropics； but it is an essential。 You will sweat enough anyway； even if you get down to a brass wire costume like the natives。 It is when you stop in the shade； or the breeze； or the dusk of evening； that the trouble comes。 A chill means trouble； SURE。 Two extra suits are all you want。 There is no earthly sense in bringing more。 Your tent boy washes them out whenever he can lay hands on them…it is one of his harmless manias。
Your shirt should be of the thinnest brown flannel。 Leather the shoulders； and part way down the upper arm； with chamois。 This is to protect your precious garment against the thorns when you dive through them。 On the back you have buttons sewed wherewith to attach a spine pad。 Before I went to
