Abstract
IN these days, when exploring tours and extended scientific excursions are so universal, it is a great advantage to be able to take up one's bed and walk, to be in short entirely independent of sleeping accommodation. Even in our own country it is often an advantage to the working geologist, or botanist, or zoologist, to be independent in this respect, and while it is sometimes no great hardship to make one's bed on the heather or grass under the lea of a broom-bush or dyke, still it is seldom advisable to do so if it can be avoided. Many of our readers will therefore be glad to know that Seydel and Co. of Birmingham have devised a handy hammock, which bears the name of the “Ashantee Hammock,” from its having been found of great service during the Ashantee campaign, Sir Garnett Wolseley testifying strongly to its manifold utility. It is made of light but strong netting, and can be so folded up as to be slung over the shoulder like a bag, or even carried in a fair-sized coat-pocket. From the arrangement of the ropes, hooks, and screws, it can be used under almost any circumstances, and, as we ourselves can testify, forms a thoroughly comfortable and secure bed or lounge. Mr. Stanley, we believe, was so favourably impressed with the hammock, that he has taken a supply with him in his present exploration; and for explorers in tropical countries, we should think it would prove useful in many ways, as it can not only be used as a bed, but, mounted on a pole, as a travelling litter or palanquin. For those of our readers engaged in explorations of any kind, geological, geographical, botanical, zoological, or even in doing an ordinary tour, in remote districts, we believe the hammock would be found of real service, as it would make them quite independent of sleeping accommodation, and would not increase the weight of their impedimenta by very many ounces. An idea of its construction and its adaptability to almost any circumstances may be obtained from the illustrations we give. We can honestly recommend the hammock as likely to answer all the purposes for which it has been designed.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
A Pocket Hammock . Nature 16, 209–210 (1877). https://doi.org/10.1038/016209b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/016209b0