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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
thoroughly good quality, of medium substance, and unobtrusive pattern
or colour. It will be well to order them of extra length, both of
sleeve and body, so as to allow for the shrinkage which is certain
to take place after a few washings, in spite of all precautions. Two
breast pockets should be made in each. These are very convenient for
holding a variety of small matters when no waistcoat is worn. For outer
clothing nothing can surpass good heather- tweed, or Waterford
frieze, for ordinary wear; jackets of shooting-coat pattern, made with
plenty of pockets, formed from much stronger materials than are usually
made use of by tailors for that purpose, will be found most useful
for knocking about in. One or two pairs of trousers may be strapped
up the inside and bottoms of the legs with leather, after the cavalry
rough-rider pattern. A pair or two of Oxford cord hunting breeches
will also be found useful to wear with long boots, with ankle jacks
and gaiters. The waistcoats should be cut rather long, made with four
pockets, two breast and two bottom. All these should have flaps or
"salt-box" covers to them. Each half of the waistcoat, from about the
level of the bottom button and button-hole to where the back is joined
in, should be lined with a strip of leather. A long loose gaberdine
of woollen stuff, made to button up the front, and secured round the
waist by a long narrow scarf or "cummerbund," is an immense comfort
in camp or quarters, let the climate be hot or cold. A good supply of
reddish-brown woollen socks should be laid in; a moderate number of
long stockings, of the same material, to wear with the breeches; and
a few dozen pairs of the "heelless cotton" socks, for use on board
ship, or when the weather is hot; nothing can be more agreeable to
wear, except silk, and the cost is a mere trifle when compared to that
of other hosiery. White cotton pocket handkerchiefs, as a rule, last
their owners very much longer than silk, being less tempting to native
servants or followers. Braces should be always ordered of the saddler,
and made from the material used for the surcingles of racehorses. One
pair of these lasts longer than half-a-dozen of the flimsy affairs
usually sold ready made. There are those who dispense with braces, find
great relief by the practice, and wear an ordinary waist-belt instead;
but to some persons much discomfort is caused by so doing. A soft felt
hat, with a moderately wide brim, is a convenient head dress in most
temperate climates. With the head gear made use of in the tropics and
the far north we shall have to speak hereafter. The best gloves for
general and moderately rough usage are those sold under the name of
driving gloves. They should be obtained of the regular glover, and have
buckskin let in between the fingers. A pair of common hedging gloves
well repays the trouble of taking, when the brush of the thicket has to
be handled and firewood arranged.

{Hats, ground sheets, and india-rubber garments.}

Take a blue cloth pilot coat, cut long enough to reach just below
the knees; have it lined throughout with woollen material; let the
pockets be made extra strong, and order the buttons to be large, of
black horn, and sewn on with double-waxed thread. The left hand breast
pocket should be deep and lined with leather, as it not unfrequently
becomes a resting-place for the revolver when you do not wish to make
an ostentatious display of it. Get a couple of real Scotch caps, such
as the Highland shepherds wear; nothing can equal them for sleeping in
when camping out, and they form a most convenient head-covering for
camp use, or when the sun is not too powerful. Get from some sailors'
outfitter a regular seagoing sou'wester hat, with ear and neck flaps,
and a pair of oiled canvas overalls to match. Procure also from some
first-class maker a thoroughly good india-rubber coat; long enough to
come well below the tops of the butcher boots. Buttons should be sewn
in at the back and sides of the collar, in order to admit of a hood
of the same material being put on when needed. An arrangement of this
kind we have found most useful for boat work and in heavy tropical
rains. Order also a piece of the best Russia duck, 9ft. by 8ft.; have
this subjected to the waterproofing process; have the edges turned in
to form a 2in. hem; and at every two feet, at both sides and ends,
have good sized wide flanged brass eyelets punched in. Then in the
centre of the piece have a longitudinal slit made 16in. in length,
have the raw edge bound with a broad strong tape, and at every 3in.
on each side have an eyelet of less size than those at the edges put
in. This arrangement admits of the slit being laced close when it
is not required. A waterproof square of this kind is useful for an
almost endless number of purposes. In the first place it can be used
as a ground sheet to sleep on; it can, by thrusting the head through
the unlaced opening, be converted into an excellent cloak; it can by
fastening strings and pegs to the sides, and cutting a ridge pole,
be converted into a very fair substitute for a small tent; it forms
an excellent carpet to lay by the side of the tent bed, when you are
fortunate enough to be able to use one, keeping down insects, and
protecting the feet from sharp grass, stumps, and twigs. If during
rain the tent should admit water, as it sometimes will (especially if
heedlessly touched when saturated with moisture), this universal square
of duck can by the aid of some upright sticks or canes, one at the head
and another at the foot of the bed, and a bit of rope stretched like a
clothes line from one to the other, be at once made use of as a roof
to the bed, the sides being made to <DW72> and stand out by attaching
pieces of twine to a few of the side poles. Clothes and other matters
can be securely carried when rolled up in this, even in the heaviest
rain. On a pinch, even a river might be crossed with its assistance,
but the method adopted for constructing extempore rafts, boats, canoes,
and floats, will be fully treated on when that subject comes under
consideration.

{Boots and shoes.}

Boots and shoes for real work are in no part of the world equal to
those made at home, and a thoroughly good stock should be laid in
before quitting England; "butcher boots," so made as to fit the leg
compactly just below the bend of the knee, with low heels, and broad
heel seats; several pairs of shooting boots of the regular ankle-jack
gamekeeper's pattern, tipped at toe and heel. A pair or two of high
shoes made from soft undressed russet leather will be found very useful
to wear instead of slippers, or for camp use when