From Paris to New York by Land Part 13

Should any of my readers decide to take a prospecting trip to this newly discovered northern El Dorado, it may not be out of place to furnish a description of the kind of outfit required for a year's residence there.

Mr. Bennett was good enough to give me a list of requisites which an experience of two years in the Copper River district had shown him were essential to the comfort and health of the prospector. They are as follows:

CLOTHING.

Three thick tweed suits.

Three suits heavy woollen underwear.

Six pairs wool stockings.

Two pairs fur mits.

Two heavy Mackinaw suits.[83]

Four woollen s.h.i.+rts.

Two heavy sweaters.

One rubber lined top-coat.

One fur Parka and hood.[83]

Two pairs high rubber boots.

Two pairs shoes.

Two pairs heavy blankets.

One fur-lined sleeping-bag.

One suit oilskins.

One suit buckskin underwear.

Towels, needles, thread, wax, b.u.t.tons.

[Footnote 83: Procurable at Valdes.]

MINING TOOLS.

One long-handled shovel.

One pick.

One axe (duplicate handles).

Five lbs. wire nails.

Three lbs. oak.u.m.

Two large files.

Two hammers.

One jack blade.

One large whip saw.

One hand saw.

One hundred and fifty feet ?" rope.

A draw knife.

Two chisels.

One jack knife.

One whetstone.

Two buckets.

Two miner's gold-pans.

One frying-pan.

One kettle.

One Yukon stove.

One enamelled iron pot.

Two plates.

One cup.

One teapot.

Three knives.

Three forks.

Three spoons.

FOOD.

Three hundred and fifty lbs. flour.

Two hundred lbs. bacon.

One hundred and fifty lbs. beans.

Ten lbs. tea.

Seventy-five lbs. coffee.

Five lbs. baking powder.

Twenty-five lbs. salt.

Five lbs. sugar.

One hundred and fifty lbs. dried vegetables and meats.

One hundred lbs. a.s.sorted dried fruits.

Ten lbs. soap.

Three tins matches.

ARMAMENT.

One gun (to fire shot or bullets).

One hundred rounds shot and bullet cartridges.

Re-loading tools.

One large hunting knife.

Fis.h.i.+ng tackle.

Snow goggles.

CAMPING OUTFIT.

One canvas tent, 8 ft. by 10 ft., in one piece, with floor-cloth.

Spare pegs and guy ropes.

Mosquito netting.

MEDICINE CHEST.[84]

Quinine pills.

Calomel.

Compound catharic pills.

Chlorate of potash.

Mustard plasters.

Belladonna plasters.

Carbolic ointment.

Witch hazel.

Essence of ginger.