comes filthy and tramped into mud-puddles about the camp animals which have to lie on it. The camp site should not be near a town because of the lack of privacy and the annoyance from visitors. Where cattle or hogs roam at large it should be in a fenced field. It should be especially selected for convenience to an abundant supply of good water (Art. 378) and where fire-wood can be easily obtained (Art. 365), In the dense, damp woods of the North it should be in a clearing, and in the burning sunlight of the South and West it should be in the shade, preferably of a grove of trees (Fig. 187). It should always be on slightly rising or high ground to assure good drainage, and as between camping in the bottom of a ravine or canyon or on top of a ridge, the latter should invariably be selected. There it is less damp and cold in early morning, and there the sunlight shines last at night. Care must always be exercised in selecting a camp site to choose one easily reached by wagons, pack-animals, etc., and which is convenient to forage or to pasture-land. All 355. Tents.-The most satisfactory and comfortable tent for all general purposes is a 9 X 9 tent with 4-foot wall and extension fly (see tent with flag, Fig. 187). The best pattern of tents is that made by contract for the United States Army. Tents of fair quality, and nearly as good as those of the Army, are to be had of numerous makers in various parts of the United States. They should be of full 12-oz. army duck, warranted free from sizing and mildew-proof. seams should be lapped at least one inch and double-sewed. The opening should be in the middle of one end and should be protected by flap of at least eight inches width which can be tied both inside and outside. Near the top of each. end should be a small opening for ventilation and for inserting the pole (Fig. 188), and this should be protected in stormy weather by a canvas flap which can be tied down over it from the inside. Inside the tent, on a level with the top of the wall all around, at distances of two feet, should be tied strings, so that the wall can be raised in warm weather and tied up so as to allow the air to circulate freely. At the bottom of the wall should be a sod-flap of lighter duck and about eight inches in width. This is to keep out the wind and rain, so that when the tent is pegged down from the outside this flap is turned inside near the floor or ground, and kept in place by laying upon it dirt, short strips of wood or stone, or anything else which will weight it down. The use of dirt is not recommended as it is liable to rot and Door 6'8" destroy the cloth. FIG. 188.-WALL TENT WITH FLY. The ridge-pole should project about five or six feet in front of the tent, and be supported there by a third pole, and the fly should be this amount longer than the tent that is, 14 to 15 feet in length, so as to extend like a porch as a shelter from sun and rain. An excellent modification of this extension fly is to so cut it that it will droop downward in a curved or turtleback form; then it will not be supported by an extension ridge, but will be merely guyed out by ropes. Frequently for convenience of transportation or for lightness tents of other sizes must be used. In a large party it is often more convenient to have a 12 X 14 tent, in which a num ber of men may live or which may be used as a dining-tent. If for the latter purpose, such tent need not be provided with a fly. In very hot weather the most comfortable dining-tent is a simple fly which forms an awning as protection from sun and rain. Larger tents than 9 × 9 require at least two men to properly erect them. Where tents must be transported on the backs of men or animals, they must be of especially light design. It is then impracticable to carry poles unless these be jointed. Where wood can be procured, poles can be quickly hewn, or a rope may be used for the ridge and be tied to two trees, and the tent hung from these and guyed out as though supported by ridge and poles. Where timber is not convenient, light jointed poles may be carried, but the ridge can be dispensed with, a rope being used as a ridge by guying it out to some distance in front and rear. Under such circumstances small 7 X 7 A tents of 8-oz. duck and without flies may be carried. These can be had of weights as light as 6 to 8 lbs. to the tent, and will furnish shelter to a party of three or four men in the most inclement weather, providing they are properly ditched and have steep enough inclination to their sides to quickly shed water. In the tropics and where the heat is great, only the heaviest tents will furnish comfortable protection. A light tent or one of moderate-weight canvas will not keep out the burning rays of a tropic sun. At least two or even three tents of brown duck, each six inches to a foot smaller than the next, should be erected one inside the other so as to have an air-space of several inches about each; then if the wall at the bottom be raised to allow circulation of the air, the interior will be sufficiently cool for comfort. In India and Persia tents of light woolen cloth are used, and over the outside of these are placed tents of brown duck. These keep out the heat, retain the cool air of the early morning until late in the day, and protect from the rays of the sun. |