--Wafers.--The common wafers are punched out of a
sheet made of a paste of flour and water that has suddenly been baked
hard. Gum wafers are punched out of a sheet made of thick gum and water
poured on a slightly-greased surface (a looking-glass for example),
another greased glass having been put on the top of the gum to make it
dry even.
Paste should be made like arrowroot, by mixing the flour in a minimum of
cold water, and then pouring a flush of absolutely boiling water upon it.
It is made a trifle thicker and more secure from insects by the addition
of alum. Corrosive sublimate is a more powerful protection against
insects, but is by no means an absolute safeguard, and it is dangerous to
use.
Gum.--The white of eggs forms a substitute for gum. Some sea-weeds yield
gum. (See also "Glue," "Isinglass," and "Sealing-wax Varnish.")
Signets.--Many excellent and worthy bushmen have the misfortune of not
knowing how to write: should any such be placed in a post of confidence
by an explorer, it might be well that he should cut for himself a signet
out of soft stone--such as the europeans of bygone generations, and the
Turks of the last one, very generally employed. A device is cut on the
seal; before using it, the paper is moistened with a wet finger, and the
ink is dabbed over the ring with another; the impression is then made,
using the ball of the thumb for a pad.
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