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  [Illustration: SWINGING THE PACKS OF THE NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION
                 OVER A BRANCH OF JASPER CREEK VICTORIA RIVER 1856.]


  [Illustration:
                         SHIFTS AND EXPEDIENTS

                              OF CAMP LIFE

                          TRAVEL & EXPLORATION


                              BY W.B. LORD

                            ROYAL ARTILLERY

                                   &

                           T. BAINES F.R.G.S.


                                 LONDON
                               HORACE COX
                              39 STRAND WC

                                  1871
]




                               CONTENTS.


                                                                   PAGE.

                                 CHAPTER I.

  OUTFIT TO TAKE ABROAD                                                3


                                CHAPTER II.

  BOATS, RAFTS, AND MAKE-SHIFT FLOATS                                 91


                                CHAPTER III.

  WORKING IN METALS                                                  192


                                CHAPTER IV.

  HUTS AND HOUSES                                                    268


                                 CHAPTER V.

  EXTEMPORE BRIDGES AND MAKESHIFTS FOR CROSSING RIVERS OR RAVINES    317


                                CHAPTER VI.

  TIMBER AND ITS UTILISATION                                         355


                                CHAPTER VII.

  SLEDGES AND SLEDGE TRAVELLERS                                      394


                               CHAPTER VIII.

  BOOTS, SHOES, AND SANDALS                                          412


                                CHAPTER IX.

  WAGGONS AND OTHER WHEELED VEHICLES                                 432


                                CHAPTER X.

  HARNESS AND PACK ANIMALS                                           457


                                CHAPTER XI.

  CATTLE MARKING                                                     478


                                CHAPTER XII.

  HINTS ON HYGEENS AND CAMELS                                        483


                                CHAPTER XIII.

  WATER, AND THE SAP OF PLANTS                                       491


                                CHAPTER XIV.

  CAMP COOKERY                                                       535


                                CHAPTER XV.

  FISH AND AMPHIBIOUS ANIMALS                                        585


                                CHAPTER XVI.

  POISONED WEAPONS, ARROWS, SPEARS, &C.                              619


                                CHAPTER XVII.

  TRACKING, HUNTING, AND TRAPPING                                    628


                                CHAPTER XVIII.

  PALANQUINS, STRETCHERS, AMBULANCES, &C.                            682


                                CHAPTER XIX.

  ON SKETCHING AND PAINTING UNDER THE ORDINARY DIFFICULTIES
      OF TRAVEL                                                      716


                                CHAPTER XX.

  THE ESTIMATION OF DISTANCES AND HINTS ON FIELD OBSERVING           726


                                CHAPTER XXI.

  HINTS TO EXPLORERS ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING OBJECTS
      OF NATURAL HISTORY                                             761


                                CHAPTER XXII.

  ROPES AND TWINE                                                    788


                                CHAPTER XXIII.

  BUSH VETERINARY SURGERY AND MEDICINE                               798


  APPENDIX                                                           808

  INDEX                                                              815




                       DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.


SWINGING THE PACKS OF THE NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION }
OVER A BRANCH OF JASPER CREEK, VICTORIA RIVER, 1856   }  _Frontispiece._

CAMP SCENE IN AFRICA                                  _To face page_  55

BOAT BUILDING ON THE LOGIER RIVER                                    125

SENDING LINE FROM WRECK TO LEE SHORE BY MEANS OF A KITE              185

LEAD SMELTING IN THE FOREST                                          228

SEARCHING FOR GOLD                                                   251

INDIAN LODGES                                                        309

THE TREATMENT OF TIMBER BY STEAM AND SAW                             376

SLEDGING OVER ROUGH ICE                                              402

THE WILSON MULE WAGGON (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)                    443

GROUP OF HARNESS                                                     465

INDIAN WELL                                                          508

HIPPOPOTAMUS TRAP                                                    613

TRAPS FOR SMALL GAME                                                 673

VARIOUS MODES OF CARRYING THE SICK OR WOUNDED                        688




                         Shifts and Expedients

                                   OF

                  CAMP LIFE, TRAVEL, AND EXPLORATION.




                             INTRODUCTION.


Like two voyagers returned from a long cruise in far-off seas, we throw
together our joint gleanings in many lands. These do not consist of
jewels, gems, gold, or furs; no piles of costly merchandise do we lay
at the reader's feet as offerings from distant climes, but simply the
experiences of two roving Englishmen who have roughed it. By those who
have to pass through a campaign, travel wild countries, or explore
little known regions, shifts must be made, and expedients of many kinds
had recourse to, of which the inexperienced in such matters would but
little dream.

As necessity is the mother of invention, so is self-reliance the
father of its practical application, and it is with a strong desire
(by explaining how constantly recurring wants may be overcome, and
apparently hopeless difficulties surmounted) to strengthen that
quality in those who roam that we write this volume. In our travels
and adventures we have not been associated, the paths trodden by us
being widely separated. Whilst one was exploring in the wilds of North
Australia, the other was dwelling in a canvas-covered hole in the earth
before Sebastopol. The scenes change; Southern and Tropical Africa is
visited by the late Australian traveller, whilst the Crimea, with
its rugged hills and wild ravines, is exchanged for the jungles of
Central India by the other. So the two barques have drifted here and
there on the world's tide, but are anchored side by side, and have
compared logs at last; and if amongst the heterogeneous odds and ends
therein contained the reader can find the aid he seeks, our shifts and
expedients will not have been made in vain.




                               CHAPTER I.

                         OUTFIT TO TAKE ABROAD.


{Equipment to be purchased in England.}

In dealing with this portion of our subject we can but generalise, as
the destination of the traveller and the objects he has in view will
materially modify the nature and extent of his equipment. The military
officer who is bound on a long march, through a comparatively wild
country, needs a very different outfit from that which a hunter or
trader of experience would procure for himself before starting for
the home of the elephant and the savage. The man who, with his wife
and family, seeks a new home beyond the border line which divides the
unreclaimed wilderness from civilised society, needs an infinitely
more voluminous store of requisites--not to say comforts--than the
small band of hardy explorers or hunter naturalists, who, with horse,
mule, pack and rifle, wend their way over prairies and mountains
without path, and thread the forests and thickets where no traveller
has penetrated. There are other members of the human family who prefer
prosecuting their wanderings alone, carry all their worldly possessions
with them, and whose equipment is usually of a particularly simple
and practical character. The sea, the inland lake, and the rivers
flowing through little known regions, each have their explorers, for
whose use a variety of contrivances are needed. Some of these are
best made at home; others it will be found most convenient to prepare
in the localities in which their aid are required; whilst at times
adverse circumstances will render it necessary to improvise rough and
ready appliances to save life and prolong its duration when saved. We
shall therefore endeavour to give such hints and directions as will
enable our readers who intend visiting far-off countries to select
such matters as may be best purchased before quitting England, and to
avoid encumbering themselves with useless impedimenta. As we have first
made mention of the military officer about to depart on service, we
will suppose that he is in London, or any other large town, gathering
together his traps for a start. We will then accompany him on his
shopping expeditions, and give him a few hints as to what will prove
most useful. On matters of uniform we can have nothing to say further
than to advise, as we do in every case of purchase, that it be obtained
from some tradesman of well-established reputation. The raiment
calculated to meet the requirements of refined society, when the
uniform is for the time cast aside, must also be left to the dictates
of the prevailing mode and the good taste of the wearer.

{Shirt making and clothing.}

Where fashion and the dress regulations of the army end there do we
begin, and as flannel is, perhaps, the most important as an article
of under clothing, we will first make a few remarks on shirts of that
material, of which plenty should be taken. First, then, have them made
to measure from flannel which has been previously well shrunk, of
thorough