Macintosh Sack.—­Mr. Falconer writes to me as follows:—­“I travelled in 1841 from Austin in Texas to Mexico through New Mexico.  I left Austin in June, and reached Zacateras on Christmas Day.  During nearly the whole period we travelled from Austin to New Mexico, I camped without any covering at night for myself, except a large macintosh, made up as a sack, with a piece so laid as a continuation of one side, as to be used as a coverlet, sufficient in length to be brought from the back, over the head, and down on the breast.  Inside I placed my blankets.  I slept under this covering during many a heavy storm at night, and got out of my soft-coated shell dry in the morning.  My opinion is, that every traveller who works his way with a horse should fix on his own saddle the said macintosh sack, two blankets, a tin cup, and a frying-pan.  It is amazing, when you get into real working order, how few things are sufficient.”

Peasants’ Sack.—­The peasants in the northern parts of Germany use a strong linen sack, made to draw at one end.  This they stuff with straw, hay, dry leaves, etc.; and, putting their feet into it, pull its mouth up to their armpits.  They use them when driving their wagons in winter, and when lodging at their wretched roadside inns. (See a letter in the Times, February 125.)

Bag, combined with Tent.—­I should think that a combination of a sleeping bag with a very small tent, just large enough to enclose the man’s head and shoulders, so as to permit him to eat or write when lying in his bag without fear of the wet would be the smallest and lightest arrangement, compatible with efficiency, in a stormy climate.

TENTS.

General Remarks.—­Although tents are not worth the trouble of pitching, on dry nights, in a healthy climate, they are invaluable protectors to a well-equipped traveller against rain, dew, and malaria.  But a man who is not so equipped, who has no change of clothes, and no bedstead to sleep on, will do better to sleep in the open air, in front of a good camp fire.  Napoleon I., speaking of soldiers, says (’Maximes de Guerre’):—­“Tents are not healthy; it is better for the soldier to bivouac, because he sleeps with his feet to the fire, whose neighbourhood quickly dries the ground on which he lies; some planks or a little straw shelter him from the wind.  Nevertheless a tent is necessary for superior officers, who have need to write and to consult a map.”  To a party encamped for a few days, tents are of great use as storehouses for property, which otherwise becomes scattered about, at the risk of being lost or pilfered.

Materials for Tenting.—­Light canvas is usually employed, and is, to all intents and purposes, waterproof.  Silk, of equal strength with the canvas, is very far lighter:  its only disadvantage is its expense.  Calico, or cotton canvas, is very generally used for small tents.  Leather and felt are warm, but exceedingly heavy; and would only be used in very inclement climates, or where canvas could not be met with.  Light matting is not to be despised:  it is warm and pretty durable, and makes excellent awning or covering to a frame-work.