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.