Rifles—­ammunition—­A heavy rifle is not advised.  The only animals that can be classed as dangerous are the jaguar and white-jawed peccary, and a 30-30 or 44 calibre is heavy enough for such game.  The 44-calibre Winchester or Remington carbine is the arm generally used throughout South America, and 44 calibre is the only ammunition that one can depend upon securing in the field.  Every man has his own preference for an arm.  However, there is no need of carrying a nine or ten pound weapon when a rifle weighing only from six and three fourths to seven and one half pounds will do all that is necessary.  I, personally, prefer the small-calibre rifle, as it can be used for birds also.  The three-barrelled gun, combining a double shotgun and a rifle, is an excellent weapon, and it is particularly valuable for the collector of natural-history specimens.  A new gun has just come on the market which may prove valuable in South America where there is such a variety of game, a four-barrel gun, weighing only eight and one fourth pounds.  It has two shotgun barrels, one 30 to 44 calibre rifle and the rib separating the shotgun barrels is bored for a 22-calibre rifle cartridge.  The latter is particularly adapted for the large food birds, which a heavy rifle bullet might tear.  Twenty-two calibre ammunition is also very light and the long 22 calibre exceedingly powerful.  Unless in practice it proves too complicated, it would seem to be a good arm for all-round use—­sixteen to twenty gauge is large enough for the shotgun barrels.  Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the need of being provided with good weapons.  After the loss of all our arms in the rapids we secured four poor, rusty rifles which proved of no value.  We lost three deer, a tapir, and other game, and finally gave up the use of the rifles, depending upon hook and line.  A 25 or 30 calibre high power automatic pistol with six or seven inch barrel would prove a valuable arm to carry always on the person.  It could be used for large game and yet would not be too large for food birds.  It is to be regretted that there is nothing in the market of this character.

We had our rifle ammunition packed by the U. M. C. Co. in zinc cases of one hundred rounds each, a metallic strip with pull ring closing the two halves of the box.  Shot-cartridge, sixteen gauge, were packed the same way, twenty-five to the box.

The explorer would do well always to have on his person a compass, a light waterproof bag containing matches, a waterproof box of salt, and a strong, light, linen or silk fish-line with several hooks, a knife, and an automatic at his belt, with several loaded magazines for the latter in his pocket.  Thus provided, if accidentally lost for several days in the forest (which often happens to the rubber hunters in Brazil), he will be provided with the possibility of getting game and making himself shelter and fire at night.