E-Book Content
RICHARD GRAVES
A serious guide to survival and camping
Illustrated by Richard Gregory
DYMOCKS
ised and produced by Taylo lications (Australia) Pty Ltd 1s revised and updated edition published in 1984 by Dymocks Publishing Pty Ltd 12 Clearview Place, Brookvale, @ Richard Graves 1984
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to Dymocks Publishing Pty Ltd. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data Graves, Richard, 1898-1971. Australian bushcraft. Previously published as: The 10 bushcraft books. Sydney, Dymocks 1970. ISBN 0 909824 35 5. 1. Outdoor life - Australia. 2. Camping Australia. 3. Hiking - Australia. 4. Wilderness survival - Australia. I. Gregory, Richard. 11. Graves, Richard, 1898-1971.The 10 bushcraft books. 111. Title. IV. Title: The 10 Bushcraft books. 796.5 Designed by M. D. Camp Typeset by Everysize Typeart, Sydney Printed in Hong Kong
Contents
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9
Introduction 7 Ropes and cords 9 Knots and lashing 43 Huts and thatching 70 Campcraft 108 Food and water 173 Fire making 225 Animal habits 249 Travel and weather 268 Time and direction 290 Bibliography 3 16 Index 318
Introduction i
Richard Graves, who died in 1971, first published The 10 Bushcraft Books in 1950. A cousin of poet and author Robert Graves, he was an enthusiastic bushwalker, skier and a pioneer of white-water canoeing. During the Second World War he realised that knowing the bush helped to save lives, particularly those of men stranded behind enemy lines in the island jungles of the Pacific zone. He founded and led the Australian Jungle Rescue Detachment, assigned to the Far East United States Air Force. This detachment of 60 specially selected A.I.F. soldiers successfully carried out more than 300 rescue missions during the period of the war. Most of these missions were in enemy-held territory. All were successful, and no lives were lost. The key to the success of these rescue missions in wild and inhospitable country was survival. It was then, during the jungle training school period, that he started to compile the notes for the original 10 bushcraft volumes. Graves later revised the notes and after the war conducted a school in bushcraft for almost twenty years. In his introduction to the collection of these books Graves stated: 'The practice of bushcraft shows many unexpected results. The five senses are sharpened and consequently the joy of being alive is greater. 'The individual's ability to adapt and improvise is developed to a remarkable degree. This in turn leads to increased self-confidence. 'Self-confidence and the ability to adapt to a changing environment and to overcome the difficulties is followed by
a rapid improvement in the individual's daily work. This in turn leads to advancement and promotion. 'Bushcraft, by developing adaptability, provides a broadening influence, a necessary counter to offset the narrowing influence of modern specialisation. 'For this work of bushcraft, all that is needed is a sharp cutting instrument: knife axe or machete. The last is the most useful. For the work, dead materials are most suitable. The practice of bushcraft conserves and does not destroy wildlife.'
1 Ropes and cords
One of the basic skills needed in bushcraft is the ability to join or tie poles or sticks together. The only method available is to use lashings. Although the ready availability these days of cheap lightweight and extremely strong nylon ropes have made their inclusion almost automatic in any 'survival' bush kit, emergencies can arise. Under these circumstances ropes made from bush materials can be the