Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CAVE EXPLORATIONZA\)be substituted, but personally I do not like it so well.Spare carbide to last at least twelve hours shouldbe carried by each man, in air-tight tins speciallymade for the purpose ; and everybody should have acanteen of water, both for the lamp and for hisown use, as there is no certainty of finding anyin an unexplored cave.See that the lanterns are in perfect working order.If previously used a good deal, they should be refittedwith fresh felt packing, as the old packing maybe clogged with carbide dust.Besides his lantern, every member of the partyshould carry one or two good hard candles. Thereis no telling when an accident may happen to a lantern; it may balk, may be crushed, or may be droppedinto a pit. The candle is also needed when rechargingthe lantern.Matches should be waterproofed, either by dippingin melted paraffin, or in collodion, or in shellacvarnish thinned with alcohol. An emergency supplyof matches not to be used except when there are noothers, should be carried in a waterproof box withcover fitted so it cannot drop off. This match-boxought to have a small swivel or eye attached so itcan be fastened to one's belt by a key chain. Thenit will stay with you to the death. Inside this box,vvith the matches, stow a littlestrip of emery cloth,folded, to strike a match on when you and all yoursurroundings are sopping wet.A compass may be useful if the general courseof the cave is fairly straight, but in the labyrinthsthat most caves are contorted into it is of littleor no avail. Neither is a pedometer. A pocketaneroid may be useful to indicate one's depth fromthe surface, but it is by no means necessary.Wear old clothes, of course. Everything" shouldbe of wool, except that the coat should be of conventionalhunter's pattern, khaki or duxbak, withplenty of pockets. Such a coat carries all the impedimentaexcept the lantern, and keeps them stored