When at the watering place there is nothing but
wet sand, take a good handful of grass and tie it
roughly together in the form of a cone, six or eight
inches long ; then dipping the broad end into the pud-
dle and turning it up, a streamlet of j)artly-filtered
water will trickle down through the small end. For
a copious supply the most perfect plan, if you have
means, is to bore a cask full of auger holes and
put another small one, that has had the bottom
knocked out, inside it ; then fill up the space between
the two with grass, moss, etc. Now, sinking the
whole in the midst of the pond, the water will filter
through the auger holes and moss and rise up clear
of, at least, weeds and sand in the inner cask, whence
it -can be ladled. With a single cask, the lower
part of the sides may be bored and alternate layers
of sand and grass thrown in till they reach above
the holes ; through these layers the water will strain.
MANUAL FOR ARMY COOKS. 243
Or any coarse bag that is kept open with, hoops,
made on the spot, may be moored in the muddy
pool by having a heavy stone put inside of it, and
will act on the same principle, but less efficiently
than the casks. Sand, charcoal, sponge, and wool
are the substances most commonly used in filters ;
peat charcoal is excellent. A small piece of alum
is very efficacious in purfiying water from organic
matter, which is precipitated by the alum and a
deposit left at the bottom of the vessel.
PUTRID WATER
should always be l^oiled with charcoal or charred
sticks before drinking, as low fevers and dysenteries
too often are the consequence of its being used
indiscreetly, but the charcoal entirely disinfects it ;
bitter herbs, if steeped in it, or even rubbed well
about the cup, are said to render it less unwhole-
some. The Indians plunge a hot iron into putrid
and muddy water.
When carrying water in buckets, put a wreath of
grass, or something floating on the top of the water,
to prevent splashing; and. also make a hoop, inside
which the porter walks, while his laden hands rest
on the rim, the office of the hoop being to keep
the buckets from knocking against his legs.
TO CLARIFY MUDDY WATER.
Sprinkle a pinch of jjulverized alum over the
water in the bucket, and the impurities will soon
settle at the bottom.
TO KINDLE A SPARK INTO A FLAME,
the spark should be received into a kind of loose
nest of the most inflammable substances at hand,
which ought to be prepared before the tinder is
lighted. When by careful blowing or fanning the
244 MANUAL FOR ARMY COOKS.
flame is once started, it should be fed with, little
bits of sticks or bark, split with a knife or rubbed
between the fingers into fibers, until it has gained
enough strength to grapple with thicker ones.
FUEL.
There is something of a knack in finding firewood.
It should be looked for under bushes. The stump of
a tree, that is rooted nearly to the ground, has often
a magnificent root, fit to blaze throughout the
night. Dry manure of cattle is an excellent fuel.
Dry fuel gives out far more heat than damp fuel.
Bones of animals also furnish an excellent substi-
tute for firewood.
FIREWOOD
Page 105
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
When at the watering place there is nothing but wet sand, take a good handful of grass and tie it roughly together in the form of a cone, six or eight inches long ; then dipping the broad end into the puddle and turning it up, a streamlet of j)artly-filtered water will trickle down through the small end. For a copious supply the most perfect plan, if you have means, is to bore a cask full of auger holes and put another small one, that has had the bottom knocked out, inside it ; then fill up the space between the two with grass, moss, etc. Now, sinking the whole in the midst of the pond, the water will filter through the auger holes and moss and rise up clear of, at least, weeds and sand in the inner cask, whence it -can be ladled. With a single cask, the lower part of the sides may be bored and alternate layers of sand and grass thrown in till they reach above the holes ; through these layers the water will strain.
Or any coarse bag that is kept open with, hoops, made on the spot, may be moored in the muddy pool by having a heavy stone put inside of it, and will act on the same principle, but less efficiently than the casks. Sand, charcoal, sponge, and wool are the substances most commonly used in filters ; peat charcoal is excellent. A small piece of alum is very efficacious in purifying water from organic matter, which is precipitated by the alum and a deposit left at the bottom of the vessel.
PUTRID WATER
should always be boiled with charcoal or charred sticks before drinking, as low fevers and dysenteries too often are the consequence of its being used indiscreetly, but the charcoal entirely disinfects it ; bitter herbs, if steeped in it, or even rubbed well about the cup, are said to render it less unwholesome. The Indians plunge a hot iron into putrid and muddy water.
When carrying water in buckets, put a wreath of grass, or something floating on the top of the water, to prevent splashing; and. also make a hoop, inside which the porter walks, while his laden hands rest on the rim, the office of the hoop being to keep the buckets from knocking against his legs.
TO CLARIFY MUDDY WATER.
Sprinkle a pinch of pulverized alum over the water in the bucket, and the impurities will soon settle at the bottom.
TO KINDLE A SPARK INTO A FLAME,
the spark should be received into a kind of loose nest of the most inflammable substances at hand, which ought to be prepared before the tinder is lighted. When by careful blowing or fanning the
flame is once started, it should be fed with, little bits of sticks or bark, split with a knife or rubbed between the fingers into fibers, until it has gained enough strength to grapple with thicker ones.
FUEL.
There is something of a knack in finding firewood. It should be looked for under bushes. The stump of a tree, that is rooted nearly to the ground, has often a magnificent root, fit to blaze throughout the night. Dry manure of cattle is an excellent fuel. Dry fuel gives out far more heat than damp fuel. Bones of animals also furnish an excellent substitute for firewood.
FIREWOOD