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#girl #disquise #fake

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Young Elijah Wood in The Adventures of Huck Finn:D

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#stealing #runaway #planning

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The king and the duke play many tricks of people and steal money and items.
#king #duke #steal #money

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“Well, then I happened to think of how they always put quicksilver in loaves of bread and float them off because they always go right to the drowned carcass and stop there. So says I, I’ll keep a lookout, and if any of them’s floating around after me, I’ll give them a show. I changed to the Illinois edge of the island to see what luck I could have, and I warn’t disappointed. A big double loaf come along, and I most got it with a long stick, but my foot slipped and she floated out further. Of course I was where the current set in closest to the shore-I knowed enough for that. But by-and-by along comes another one, and this time I won. I took out the plug and shook out the little dab of quicksilver, and set my teeth in. It was “baker’s bread” - what the quality eat-none of your low-down corn-pone” (Twain 37).
Huck was so desperate for food that he was willing to take bread out of the water and eat it, in order to survive.

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Huck plans his own death very thoroughly with intricate details. This planning ensured that nobody would find him. “I made up my mind I would fix up some way to leave there. I had tried to get out of that cabin many a time, but I couldn't find no way. There warn't a window to it big enough for a dog to get through. I couldn't get up the chimbly; it was too narrow. The door was thick, solid oak slabs. Pap was pretty careful not to leave a knife or anything in the cabin when he was away...But this time I found something at last; I found an old rusty wood-saw without any handle; it was laid in between a rafter and the clapboards of the roof. I greased it up and went to work.”

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#planning #smart #fakedeath #successful

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#freedom #family #escape #jimandhuck

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“I was pretty hungry, but it warn’t going to do for me to start a fire, because they might see the smoke” (Twain 37).
Huck was constantly faced with the decision of having food to eat or the possibility of being found.

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Huck and Jim would start fires to provide warmth and use it as a way to cook their food.
#firebuilding #warmth #food

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Right behind personal safety is the environment. The Earth's climate change is leaving our forests and grasslands parched-to the point where one errant spark can set off a raging wildfire. So before you even think about how to start a campfire, consider these important points:

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Although smoke is generally used as a way to show someone is in need of help, Huck and Jim needed to be extra careful of where and when they started a fire in order to not give away their hiding spot.

#smokesignal #survival

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In westerns, filmmakers portrayed Native Americans as master communicators with smoke signals. They would send complex messages in an unknown code like a shape-shifting alphabet seen from above. While this made for interesting movies, the reality of how smoke signals were used isn't as complex. They were simple messaging systems used to send basic transmissions over long distances.

The one drawback of using smoke signals is that the enemy could also see them. For this reason, there wasn't a set code for transmissions, and each tribe had its own system. The meaning of the message was predetermined and only known to the sender and receiver of the signal. A tribe might send a message that the enemy was near or that sickness had fallen over the camp. They would also commonly use the signals to announce the outcome of battle or to call for reinforcements. In order to send signals over greater distances, tribes would set up a chain of fires to relay the message from one to the next.

Native Americans weren't the only people who used smoke signals to communicate. Chinese soldiers stationed along the Great Wall of China used smoke signals to convey messages of impending attack from one watchtower to the next. They used a mixture of wolf dung, saltpeter and sulfur to create dense smoke that's easily seen from a distance. By passing the message from tower to tower, they were able to relay a communiqué as far as 300 miles in only a few hours.

Even though two-way radios and emergency beacons have rendered smoke signals a thing of the past, The Boy Scouts of America still teaches smoke signaling. They tell their scouts to send an emergency signal of three puffs of smoke to indicate that they're in trouble in the wilderness. The reason for this is best stated in the Boy Scout motto -- "Be Prepared." You never know when something might happen to leave you lost and stranded in the woods. No one ever plans on it. Being prepared and knowing how to send a signal for safety is a good idea for any outdoor enthusiast, not just Boy Scouts.

In this article, we'll look at what kinds of messages were sent using smoke signals, as well as how to do it yourself.

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You may associate smoke signals with Native Americans in old Westerns, but they aren't totally a thing of the past. Find out why the Boy Scouts still teach kids how to make them -- and how you can send some yourself.

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#jim #escapeplan #freeagain

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As Huck is escaping from Pap he cuts a body sized hole in the wall to leave the cabin, takes supplies from the cabin and puts them in the canoe. He plans to make it look like Pap killed him by using his dads axe to slaughter a wild hog and use the blood to make it look like his blood. He also puts some of his own hair on the axe blade to prevent questioning of his “murder”. Before Huck leaves the cabin he drags a corn meal bag in the grass and drops it in a close by lake to make it look like his remains were dropped in the lake (Twain 32-34).

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#escape #cabin #freedom

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#escape #nature

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Wilderness Adventures | Escape & Evasion Courses | UK

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Exciting 2 day Escape and Evasion Courses for the ultimate thrill

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‘Then we struck out, easy and comfortable, for the island where my raft was; and we could hear them yelling and barking at each other all up and down the bank, till we was so far away the sounds got dim and died out. And when we stepped onto the raft I says, “Now, old Jim, you’re a free man again, and I bet you won’t ever be a slave no more.”’

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#food #water #shelter #resources

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Huck visits a cabin dressed as a girl, hoping to learn of the town’s current state. The lady eventually figured out that he was a boy and taught him a lesson. “You do a girl tolerable poor, but you might fool a man, maybe.....Why, I spotted you for a boy when you was threadin the needle...”(Twain).

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#fishing #berries #food #survive

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I recently re-read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. ¹ I had read it once as a kid and didn't appreciate it then. Reading it now, I found it extremely entertaining and culturally revealing, however, my original purpose in re-reading this piece of literature was to learn of some of the foods that common people ate at the time-the mid 1800′s.

Of course, to gather such information from a work of fiction, one must assume that the author depicted the types of foods eaten with reasonable accuracy. I think that such an assumption is warranted here. The book is not primarily about food and was written prior to the existence of the big-food and big-agriculture corporations that later asserted great influence on popular understanding of food and nutrition.

The story, first published in 1885, is primarily about a young boy named Huckleberry Finn (Huck), who narrates the story, and a runaway slave named Jim. The pair take a trip down the Mississippi River on a raft, fleeing civilization. The story unfolds as they form a bond and have adventures along the way. Such adventures later in the story also involve Huck's old friend Tom Sawyer. Throughout the story, the author details numerous aspects of the characters' lives through the words of Huck, including about their food.

The foods that Huck describes sound truly delicious and nourishing. Thoughout the book, Huck makes references to catching fish, especially catfish, and eating them at all meals, including for breakfast.

He tells of an occasion on which he was exploring in some wilderness and "found plenty strawberries, ripe and prime; and green summer-grapes, and green razberries ²; and the green blackberries was just beginning to show. They would all come handy by-and-by, I judged." (p. 38)

On another occasion, Huck explains that he "fetched meal and bacon and coffee, and coffee-pot and frying-pan, and sugar and tin cups. ... I catched a good big cat-fish, too, and Jim cleaned him out with his knife, and fried him." (p. 41)

On another occasion, Huck and Jim had taken shelter for the night in a cavern that they found in the wilderness. They had caught some fish and had made a fire to cook dinner. It had started to rain, but in the shelter they were dry. As the two sat enjoying each other's company around the fire, Huck said, "Jim, this is nice. ... I wouldn't want to be nowhere else but here. Pass me along another hunk of fish and some hot corn-bread." (p.47) I wish I had been there too.

At one point, Huck found himself the guest in the home of some generous strangers. Impressed with the food, he explained that "[c]old corn-pone ³, cold corn-beef, butter and butter-milk-that is what they had for me down there, and there ain't nothing better that ever I've come across yet." (p.92)

On a final occasion, while on the raft and hungry, Huck explained that "I hadn't had a bite to eat since yesterday; so Jim he got out some corn-dodgers ⁴ and buttermilk, and pork and cabbage, and greens-there ain't nothing in the world so good, when it's cooked right-and whilst I eat my supper we talked and had a good time." (p. 107)

Of course, the story was not about food in any way, and the author didn't intend to provide an example of proper nutrition. Perhaps Mr. Twain was ignorant on the subject. Nevertheless, the story does provide such an example, or at least a partial one, by giving a glimpse into a world where nutritious foods abounded as part of a tradition that still lived. Huck and the other characters no doubt lacked appreciation for the traditions that they followed. But they followed them nonetheless because they knew nothing else, and because such is the nature of tradition.

In our modern world where tradition has disappeared and corporate food products have largely replaced nutritous traditional foods, it is pleasing to be reminded of, and to learn from, those prior times.

1 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, Barnes & Noble Books, 2003.
2 As bad as my speling is, these misspellings are original in the work and fully intended by its author.
3 According to the footnote on page 37, corn-pone is "a meager home recipe of cornmeal, salt, and water, baked in an oven or cooked in a frying pan."
4 According to the footnote on page 107, corn-dodgers are "cornbread biscuits."

© 2017, City Connect News. Copyright Notice & Disclaimer are below.

Related articles:

About Patrick Crawford

Patrick Crawford was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended college and law school at the University of Notre Dame, spending one year during law school studying at Notre Dame's campus in London, England. He is now living and practicing family law in Annapolis, Maryland. When he is not practicing law, he follows the strong interest that he has acquired in the interaction between big business, government, the media, and the lives of individuals affected by these influences. He is particularly interested in the severely negative effects these forces have on nutrition, food production processes, local agriculture, and therefore, on health. He hopes that, through his articles, he will be able to educate others on the importance of traditional and sustainable foodways and agricultural practices, for the sake of both individual health and the security of local food systems. He runs his own website, called: National Fork.

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I recently re-read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. 1 I had read it once as a kid and didn't appreciate it then. Reading it now, I found it extremely entertaining and culturally revealing, however, my original purpose in re-reading this piece of literature was to learn of some of the foods that common people ate at the time-the mid 1800′s.

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Huck and Jim took precautionary measures so that they wouldn’t be noticed in the raft: “...we tied up to a tow-head in a big bend on the Illinois side, and hacked off cotton-wood branches with the hatchet and covered up the raft with them so she looked like there had been a cave-in in the bank there” (Twain 63-64).

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#raft #hiding #runaway #mississippi

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When looking through the cabin Huck and Jim found many items that would help them survive, one of them including money, as Huck explained, “We rummaged through the clothes we’d got, and found eight dollars in silver sewed up in the lining of an old blanket overcoat” (Twain 52).

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Huck directs the runaway men through a process to hide their tracks: “‘Don’t you do it. I don’t hear the dogs and horses yet; you’ve got time to crowd through the brush and get up the crick a little ways; then you take to the water and wade down to me and get in-that’ll throw the dogs off the scent’” (Twain 121).

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#howtosurvive #attitudeiseverything

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There is so much information on basic survival skills that you might be asking "Where to start?" Here are 6 primary components of wilderness survival to help you thrive in any situation.

Six Basic Survival Skills:

Number 1: Attitude
More than any other skill, your attitude determines how successful you are in a survival situation. This first of the basic survival skills might even determine whether you live or die!

To start, consider "The Rule of Threes." A human can survive for:

- 3 minutes without air
- 3 hours without a regulated body temperature (shelter)
- 3 days without water
- 3 weeks without food

The "Rule of Threes" provides a guideline of how to prioritize basic survival skills: first shelter, then water, and lastly food.

Surviving a difficult wilderness situation also requires meeting many challenges while avoiding panic. When faced with a potential survival situation, remember to use a "SPEAR":

By systematically assessing, planning, and executing your basic survival skills, you will help keep your mind and body actively engaged in addressing your situation. This will greatly aid in avoiding panic and other negative states of mind. By upholding an upright attitude, your chances of survival are greatly improved!

Number 2: Shelter
Many people who are forced into survival situations often get into serious trouble because of direct exposure to the elements. Most people in survival situations die of hypothermia, which can be easily avoided with basic survival skills. Being able to build a shelter is of paramount importance in a survival situation. It is extremely important to prevent or minimize heat loss, or if in a desert environment, to minimize water loss. Here are some things to think about when planning to build a shelter:

Shelter Considerations:
- Location (away from hazards, near materials)
- Insulation (from ground, rain, wind, air)
- Heat Source (body heat or fire-heated)
- Personal or Group Shelter

There are many types of shelters to consider including natural shelters such as caves, hollow stumps and logs, as well as building shelters such as a debris hut, lean-to, debris tipi, scout pit or snow shelter. Of the shelters listed, the debris hut is often the most practical to construct in almost any environment. Learn how to construct a debris hut.

Number 3: Water
Since the human body is composed of up to 78% water, it should be no surprise that water is higher on the list than fire or food. Ideally, a person should drink about a gallon of water per day. Many lost persons perish due to dehydration, and/or the debilitating effects of water-born pathogens from untreated water. In addition to water-borne pathogens, minerals and metals can be found in waters downstream from industrial and agricultural operations. The best sources for clean drinking water in a wilderness setting are springs, head-water streams, and collecting morning dew.

Popular modern methods for purifying/treating water include filtering pumps and chemical treatments, such as iodine. These can be efficient and effective solutions if you have access to these items in a survival situation. An herbal treatment is another method in which water may be purified from viruses and bacteria. Grapefruit seed extract is sold as a water purifier, although there is some debate on whether or not it is one hundred percent effective. The most widely used and proven method for safely purifying water is boiling. Bringing water to a boil and allowing it to continue to boil for 2-3 minutes will kill bacteria and viruses.

By maintaining a level attitude, creating a shelter, and obtaining clean water, a person can successfully survive for many weeks.

FREE Mini Survival Guide: "Thriving in the Outdoors"

In this 9-page guide, you'll discover keys to starting a fire, building a shelter, purifying water, finding food... and many other life-saving skills. Get your FREE copy now by joining our list. Discover more.

Number 4: Fire
Even though it is not directly a survival need, fire is one of the most useful basic survival skills. It can help warm your body or your shelter, dry your clothes, boil your water, and cook your food. Also, fire can provide psychological support in a survival situation, creating a sense of security and safety.

Ideally, when traveling in the wilderness, it is best to carry multiple fire-starting tools, such as a lighter, matches, flint and steel, etc... Even with these implements starting a fire can be challenging in inclement weather. We highly recommend practicing fire starting in different weather conditions within different habitats. Good fire-making skills are invaluable. If you were to find yourself in a situation without a modern fire-making implement, fire by friction is the most effective primitive technique. Popular friction fire-making methods include bow drill, hand drill, fire plow, and fire saw.

Learn how to build a fire using the bow and drill friction fire technique.

Number 5: Food
You might be surprised to see food so low on the basic survival skills priorities list, though we can survive for much longer without it as compared with shelter and water. Remember "The Rule of Threes": humans can survive without food for roughly 3 weeks (though I'm sure you would not want to go that long without food!). Thankfully, most natural environments are filled with a variety of items that can meet our nutritional needs. Wild plants often provide the most readily available foods, though insects and small wild game can also support our dietary needs in a survival situation.

Here are a few plants which are abundant throughout North America:

Cattail: known as the "supermarket of the swamp", the roots, shoots, and pollen heads can be eaten

Conifers: the inner bark, known as the cambium, is full of sugars, starches and calories, and can be eaten on most evergreen, cone-bearing trees [except for Yew, which is poisonous]

Grasses: the juices from the leaves can provide nutrition, and the root corm can be roasted and eaten

Oaks: all acorns can be leached of their bitter tannic acids, and then eaten, providing an excellent source of protein, fats, and calories

Be sure that you properly identify any plant you plan on consuming (using field guides and/or the guidance of an experienced expert). Many plants can be difficult to identify and some edible plants have poisonous look-a-likes. If you cannot identify the plant, do not eat it.

Number 6: Naturalist Skills
The more you know about nature, the better you will be able to survive in the outdoors. To be great at wilderness survival, beyond the basic survival skills, requires an in-depth understanding of a variety of nature skills. For example, wildlife tracking skills allow one to effectively locate wild game for food, and knowledge of herbal medicine allows one to heal illnesses with wild plants. Especially for the situation where you may choose to purposefully practice survival living for a lengthened period of time, naturalist knowledge is absolutely invaluable.

All of our hunter-gatherer ancestors had classification systems for living organisms, knew their names, understood their uses, recognized how they inter-related to each other, and were aware of exactly how to utilize those resources in a sustainable fashion. This knowledge was at the foundation of their ability to thrive within the natural environment.

For even the recreational wilderness skills practitioner, a basic knowledge of the natural sciences (such as botany, ecology, geology, etc...) can be very useful and enriching. A great place to start is by purchasing the relevant plant and animal field guides for your region. These resources can help you begin to identify species and understand how they relate.

Now, with these six keys to basic survival skills, you are well on your way to thriving in the outdoors!

By the way, did you know that you can take your outdoor skills to the next level through the Essential Wilderness Survival Skills online course? Go here for more information.

Wilderness Survival Courses at Alderleaf
Check out one of our favorite books on basic survival skills

About the Author: Filip Tkaczyk is a periodic guest teacher at Alderleaf. He also wrote the field guide Tracks & Sign of Reptiles & Amphibians. Learn more about Filip Tkaczyk.

Return from Basic Survival Skills back to Wilderness Survival Articles

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Six primary basic survival skills everyone should know!

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Huck dressed up as a girl to go into town and get information.
#girl #dress #disguise #fake

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#stolen #money