Note 36 — Chapter I
Reading edition
I had determined upon that period by an inspection of the chart. From Ambas Bay the direct distance is 13 miles, which must be multiplied by two for détours, and in such places an average of a mile per diem is fair progress. The following is a list of necessaries for a party of seven men:—
£ s. d.
7 blue shirts 2 5 6
7 serge trousers 3 10 0
7 pr. boots 3 10 0
12 red woollen caps 0 6 0
2 dozen matchets 1 0 0
2 hatchets 0 2 10
2 (water) breakers 0 8 8
452 lbs. rice 7 10 8
200 lbs. pork 7 10 0
14½ gallons rum 3 2 10
5 pieces blue baft 3 5 0
2 ditto satin stripe 0 17 4
£33 8 10
For private stores the best guide is any Alpine book, and even ‘Zouave leggings’ are not to be despised. Explorers in these regions must not forget that they are their own doctors, nor neglect caustic and diachylum; the reader will presently see how dear this little experience cost me.
All the belongings should be carefully watched. Krumen will steal anything and everything they can. If the water-breakers be provided with lock and key they will, unless stopped by the stick, try the trick of breaking them, and all cutlery will rapidly disappear, knives being most useful as offerings of gallantry to the native belles.
The prime difficulty here, as in other parts of Africa, is the chaussure. It is almost impossible to keep boots in order. The natural precautions are to procure the best and strongest articles that London makes—especially avoiding elastics—to use a little neats-foot oil instead of any vegetable unguents, and to keep them out of the reach of air and damp as much as possible. Even then two or three new pair will yield to the lava and other influences within the month.