Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts Part 71

[Ill.u.s.tration:

general symbol streams spring or Foot Falls and Rapids or Bridges Telegraph Lines

Ferries Gra.s.sland Cultivated Fields

Lake or Pool Corn Cotton

Marshes Orchard

Woods of Any Kind Pine Woods

MORE CONVENTIONAL SIGNS OF MAP MAKING]

A sketch map, not made to scale or true as to direction or distance, but giving enough accurate information to serve in guiding a stranger truly, can be made very quickly and easily if the district sketched has been observed closely. Observation is at the root of map making.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MAP OF GIRL SCOUT CAMP MADE BY SCOUT]

The reproduced sketch of a map made by Girl Scout, will be a guide to the Scout who is learning how to tell a story by symbols.

THE COMPa.s.s

The Mariner's Compa.s.s is an instrument which shows where the North, and other directions, are. Boxing the Compa.s.s consists in enumerating the points beginning with North and working around the circle as follows:

NORTH North by East North, Northeast Northeast by North Northeast Northeast by East East, Northeast East by North

EAST East by South East, Southeast Southeast by East Southeast Southeast by South South, Southeast South by East

SOUTH South by West South, Southwest Southwest by South Southwest Southwest by West West, Southwest West by South

WEST West by North West, Northwest Northwest by West Northwest Northwest by North North by West

NORTH

How to Find Points of Compa.s.s Without a Compa.s.s

Every Scout should be able to find the North without a compa.s.s. By day the sun will tell you where the North is, and the stars by night.

How to Tell the Points of the Compa.s.s by the Sun

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Any time before noon, if you stand facing the sun, North is at your left hand: after noon, if you face the sun, North is at your right hand.

The Phoenicians, who sailed round Africa in ancient times, noticed that when they started the sun rose on their left-hand side--they were going south. Then they reported that they got to a strange country where the sun got up in the wrong quarter, namely on their right hand. The truth was that they had gone round the Cape of Good Hope and were steering north again up the coast of Africa.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mariner's Compa.s.s]

Probably the most accurate way to find North, if you have no compa.s.s, is to use an open-faced watch. Holding the watch flat, turn it so that the small or hour hand points directly toward the sun. The South will then be half way between the hour hand and the figure XII on the dial. Before noon the halfway point is between the hour hand and XII clockwise, and after noon it is between the hour hand and XII counter-clockwise.

How to Find North by the Stars

All stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west, which is really due to our earth turning around under them. But one star never moves in relation to us, and that is Polaris, the North Star, which stands still over the north pole to show us where North is.

3. KNOTS AND THEIR USES FOR GIRL SCOUTS

It doubtless seems very strange to you that a Girl Scout should have to know how to handle a rope and tie knots according to rules. Most people have never dreamed that there are rules for these things; they have made knots, when necessary, in a way peculiar to themselves and have been quite surprised that the knots come out when they are expected to hold fast and hold fast when they are expected to come out.

Ropes and knots have been in use by all peoples for many years. The rules concerning them have been developed and perfected as time has pa.s.sed until now there is no question as to the usefulness of these things and the way to handle them correctly.

As the sailors and the engineers have worked with ropes and knots more than others, it is to them that we go for our information. We need all we can get, for today in nearly all forms of occupation twine, cord and rope are used and knots are tied. As the Girl Scout who wants to be a Golden Eaglet takes up many of these occupations, she needs to know how to tie knots quickly, in the dark if necessary, and correctly, for then they will hold fast yet can be readily untied. These are essential requirements to be remembered, but just as important is the fact that purposes and uses of knots differ greatly.

Every Scout should have five feet of one-quarter inch Manila rope, whipped at both ends. With this small piece, which only represents the much larger rope needed in many cases for practical purposes, all of the required knots can be made and nearly all of their uses demonstrated.

Have you ever made a blanket roll, put it across your shoulder, hiked through the woods or over the hills for a sleep in the open? Where would all your necessary articles have been if you had not tied them snugly in the roll? Without them you would have been far from happy.

Or have you pulled a sled up a long hill over and over again for the sake of the slide down? How about the little knots that held the rope in place--did you ever think of them? There are many things we do for the sake of a good time where knots and rope are indispensable.

An interesting story is told by a Girl Scout who watched two men trying to hang a very large and heavy curtain which was to be used as part of the stage setting for an entertainment. The men tried to tie two ropes together, one of which was considerably larger than the other. Every knot they tied was pulled out by the weight of the curtains. Finally the men were quite ready to say "It cannot be done." It was then that the Girl Scout offered her services. The men looked at her doubtfully, but said, "Go ahead." Of course she tied a knot that held fast; then she had to teach it to the men. You see, she could be helpful, for she knew the kind of knot that would hold two ropes of unequal thickness together and knew how to make it.

Did you ever notice how few people know how to tie bundles and packages securely and neatly? Yet this is a most helpful thing to do. Parcels that go through the post or by express are handled roughly and unless tied with special care they are not delivered in good condition.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of unusual surroundings where we can be of service if we know what to do and how to do it. A Scout is sometimes called upon to give First Aid, possibly to tie on splints, a bandage, or a sling; or use a life-line.

Once a boat was swept over one of the lesser falls at Niagara. In it were three people--a father, mother and their son. A group of men and women standing on the bridge saw the accident; one of them ran for a rope and threw the end over the side of the bridge calling to those in the water to catch it. One succeeded, but the rope slipped through his hands almost immediately because there was neither a loop nor a knot to hold on to.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 1. Square or Reef Knot]

These stories, which are true, make us realize the importance of knowing something of ropes and knots, that we may Be Prepared when our services are needed.

Parts of a Rope

The three parts of a rope are:

1. The End, the part used in leading;

2. The Bight, a loop made by bending the rope back on itself and holding it in place;

3. The Standing Part, the long portion of the rope not used when tying a knot.

1. Square or Reef Knot