A piece of cloth eight by twelve feet will furnish a remarkable variety of tent forms and shelter devices from a leanto to the closed style. It is the best bivouac for rain and mosquitoes. Aside from its simplicity in shape and handiness in construction, it has, if made from the proper materials, an added advantage of lightness and is ideal for use as a general utility camp cloth. No other style of tent will furnish so much head and sleeping room for the same weight and area of cloth.
In making one at home procure four yards of unbleached muslin of ninety inch width (or twelve yards of the thirty inch width), dye it the shade of color desired, and use it to make the tent and then waterproof it. Cut and sew the pieces into the 8 by 12 sheet and make
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF TARPAULIN TENT]
around the edge a ¾ inch hem. Lay it flat and with chalk or a pencil mark the lines as diagrammed. For reinforcement sew on light tape from the points a, b, h, c and f as indicated and converging all at G where a semicircle of the tent material is sewed in and a strong cord loop is attached to the grommet in the peak. This suspension point will receive the greatest stress when the tent is pitched. Upon this tape reinforcement depends the strength more than the kind of cloth used. Make peg loops at e, d, f, a, h, b, and c. The back of the tent will extend from a to b, the sides f to a and b, to c and the front e to d with the apex at G. The holes are protected with grommets procured from the tent shop or hardware store and the cloth reinforced by 3 by 3 inch squares sewed in.
The tarpaulin used as a flat front tent, as a leanto or as an open shelter tent can be erected in a few minutes. To set up--the corners are first pegged down at A and B stretching the rear line snugly: carry the sides B and C and F and A to the point S at right angles to the rear line and peg down. Throw the suspension rope (5 yards of braided window sash cord) attached to the loop at G over a projecting limb or pole and pull taut. This rope should continue the angle of the roof from H to G and the front e, f, g and c, d, g, is perpendicular. A sod cloth may be sewed around the floor or a permanent floor cloth fitted in. In mosquito season a loose cheese cloth door may be attached. The dimensions of this useful tent when pitched are height 6½ feet, depth 5 feet, and width 7½ feet and when constructed of balloon silk need not exceed a weight of six pounds.