PERSONAL OUTFIT 65 



were to wear our beautiful sea-boots, we discovered that 

 most of them were useless? Some of the men could 

 dance a hornpipe in theirs without taking the boots off 

 the deck. Others, by exerting all their strength, could 

 not squeeze their foot through the narrow way and 

 reach paradise. The leg was so narrow that even the 

 most delicate little foot could not get through it, and 

 to make up for this the foot of the boot was so huge 

 that it could comfortably accommodate twice as much 

 as its owner could show. Very few were able to wear 

 their boots. We tried changing, but that was no use; 

 the boots were not made for any creatures of this planet. 

 But sailors are sailors wherever they may be; it is not 

 easy to beat them. Most of them knew the proverb 

 that one pair of boots that fit is better than ten pairs 

 that you can't put on, and had brought their own with 

 them. And so we got out of that difficulty. 



We took three sets of linen underclothing for every 

 man, to wear in the warm regions. This part of the 

 equipment was left to each individual : most men possess 

 a few old shirts, and not much more is wanted through 

 the tropics. For the cold regions there were two sets 

 of extra thick woollen underclothing, two thick hand- 

 knitted woollen jerseys, six pairs of knitted stockings, 

 Iceland and other lighter jackets, socks and stockings 

 from the penitentiary. 



Besides these we had a quantity of clothing from the 

 army depots. I owe many thanks to General Keilhau 



VOL. I. 5 



