CLOTHING 61 



came from tender-hearted individuals who themselves 

 kept watch-dogs tied up. 



Besides our four-footed companions, we took with us 

 a two-footed one, not so much on account of the serious 

 work in the Polar regions as for pleasant entertainment 

 on the way. This was our canary " Fridtjof." It was 

 one of the many presents made to the expedition, and 

 not the least welcome of them. It began to sing as 

 soon as it came on board, and has now kept it going on 

 two circumnavigations through the most inhospitable 

 waters of the earth. It probably holds the record as a 

 Polar traveller among its kind. 



Later on we had a considerable collection of various 

 families: pigs, fowls, sheep, cats, and rats. Yes, un- 

 fortunately, we knew what it was to have rats on board, 

 the most repulsive of all creatures, and the worst 

 vermin I know of. But we have declared war against 

 them, and off they shall go before the Fram starts on 

 her next voyage. We got them in Buenos Aires, and 

 the best thing will be to bury them in their native 

 land. 



On account of the rather straitened circumstances the 

 expedition had to contend with, I had to look twice at 

 every shilling before I spent it. Articles of clothing 

 are an important factor in a Polar expedition, and I 

 consider it necessary that the expedition should provide 

 each of its members with the actual " Polar clothing." 

 If one left this part of the equipment to each individual, 



