Jan. 1859. PREPARATIONS FOR TRAVELLING. 195 



may be summed up thus : — First, our personal apparel : 

 making face-covers, light over-all dresses or snow-repellers, 

 to keep out the penetrating drift-snow ; altering and fitting 



Travelling Costume. 



mocassins and canvas boots, re-sewing everything, and test- 

 ing the warmth and comfort of the suit by preparatory 

 walks. Secondly, preparing the sledges, re-lashing them, 

 and burnishing the steel shoeing of the runners; adapt- 

 ing and strengthening our small calico tents (mine, which 

 serves for six persons, weighs only 18^ lbs., the poles in- 

 cluded) ; making blanket sleeping-bags, and tent robes. And 

 lastly, making bags of the lightest material to hold the pro- 

 visions, cans for spirit-fuel and for rum, and packages of all 

 sorts ; also altering and testing our cooking utensils. In 



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