[Sketch of knot as described].

To sling a Jar.—­Put it in a handkerchief or a net.

To tie a Parcel on the back, like a Knapsack.—­Take a cord 10 feet long, double it, and lay the loop end upon a rock or other convenient elevation; then place the object to be carried upon the cord, taking care that the loop is so spread out as to admit of its ultimately enclosing the object with a good hold and balance.  Next pass the free ends of the cord over the object and through the loop; then, bringing your shoulder to a level with the package, draw the free ends of the cords over your right shoulder:  the cords will by this time have assumed the appearance shown in the sketch.

[Sketch of cords as described].

Now pass the left arm between the left-hand cord and the package at B, and the right arm between the right-hand cord and the package at C. Lastly, draw the cords tight, and the object will be found to be fastened on to your back like a knapsack.  A gun may be passed between the cords and the top of the object.  This is a capital method of carrying a load of game over a broken country, where at least one hand is required to be free.  I am indebted to Mr. F. M. Wyndham for a knowledge of it:  he found it frequently in use in Norway.  In hot countries the plan would not be so convenient, as the heat of a soft package strapped closely to the back is very oppressive.

WRITING MATERIALS.

Paper.—­Its Numerous Applications.—­Captain Sherard Osborn, in writing of the Japanese, says:—­“It was wonderful to see the thousand useful as well as ornamental purposes to which paper was applicable in the hands of these industrious and tasteful people.  Our papier-mache manufacturers, as well as the Continental ones, should go to Yeddo to learn what can be done with paper.  With the aid of lacker varnish and skilful painting, paper made excellent trunks, tobacco bags, cigar cases, saddles, telescope cases, the frames of microscopes; and we even saw and used excellent water-proof coats made of simple paper, which did keep out the rain, and were as supple as the best macintosh . . . . .  The inner walls of many a Japanese apartment are formed of paper, being nothing more than painted screens; their windows are covered with a fine translucent description of the same material; it enters largely into the manufacture of nearly everything in a Japanese household, and we saw what seemed balls of twine, which were nothing but long shreds of tough paper rolled up. . . .  In short, without paper, all Japan would come to a dead lock.”

Sizing Paper.—­The coarsest foreign paper can be sized, so as to prevent its blotting when written on, by simply dipping it in, or brushing it well over with, milk and water, and letting it dry.  A tenth part of milk is amply sufficient.  Messrs. Huc and Gabet inform us that this is the regular process of sizing, as used by paper-makers in Thibet.