Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

TRIPS AFOOT 107Salt, in bamboo tube ^ •'-C^x"%%fo^, TToBags, paper, tin, tube .. .j3..''-v^;t'^V^. 52The articles in the main pack suffice for an in-K (^definite period. If one is going out only for a couple f)->^ ^of days he will not carry all of them. The P^o- ->^''^^^^5Jb».visions aftord a varied diet, yet weigh no more > p^ ^A> *than "iron rations" of hardtack, bacon, and cofEee,*>-J^O»and they keep as well. They are very nourishing v> ^for their w^eight, being almost water-free (exceptfresh bread, if taken instead of flour). Since oneusually travels either where fish or game can besecured,or where farm produce can be bought, thefood packed along may last longer than two days.If such rations as those here listed were carriedsufficient for a week, the whole burden would stillbe only about 353^ pounds, allowing for a largerpack sack.When bread is to be baked on the journey, Imake up a mixture beforehand of wheat flour(2 parts), cornmeal (l part), a little egg powder,and some baking powder sifted in. This makes afine johnny-cake, lighter than common frying-panbread, wholesomer, and better tasting.Abjure all canned stuffs on a marching trip. Ifyou test the canned meats, etc., that are put up intins small enough for one man, you will find thatnearly or quite half of the w^eight is in the tin.The little bags mentioned above are made of thethin but stout paraffined cloth called by tent makers"balloon silk." Salt draws too much moisture to becarried in a bag, and it quickly rusts tin; so cuta joint of bamboo to proper length, put in the salt,and secure the cork with a strip of adhesive plaster.Such tubes are useful for various purposes, beingvery light and unbreakable.In Vol. I. (p. 190), I spoke of the difficulty in get-