244 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [June 



that we have modified them to suit our requirements. The 

 modification consists in adding a sennet sole made from 

 ordinary spun yarn and secured to canvas which is closely 

 fitted and sewn to the boot ; by this device the felt of the boot 

 is protected from wear, and our people are able to do a great 

 deal of work both inside and outside the ship in this comfort- 

 able foot-gear. The only drawback is that when it is snowing 

 or drifting the fine powdery snow clings to the felt, and on 

 being brought into the living-spaces melts and wets the boots. 

 Even in fine weather this happens to the sole, and for the sake 

 of the boot it is really wiser to change before going out of 

 doors. For walking abroad or climbing over rocks these boots 

 are not well adapted, though there are individuals who from 

 perversity or laziness continue to wear them for the purpose ; 

 the majority, however, change their foot-gear when they leave 

 the immediate neighbourhood of the ship. 



' English leather boots were soon found to be far too 

 chilling to wear on such excursions, though better adapted to 

 climbing over the sharp, jagged rocks than anything we 

 possess ; but for a long time we clung to the Norwegian 

 leather ski boot, which is a looser and easier fit, and therefore 

 allows a much freer circulation in the foot ; in fact, ski boots 

 are still worn, and in some cases have been fitted with a 

 stouter sole by the cobbHng abilities of that excellent man-of- 

 all-trades, Lashly. But most of us have by this time taken to 

 wearing fur boots on our walks abroad, and now that we can 

 always dry them on our return they are the most warm and 

 comfortable foot-gear imaginable ; the only trouble is that they 

 wear out rapidly, especially on the sharp, stony, hillsides, and 

 as we may need many pairs for our sledge journeys we cannot 

 afford to be too lavish in serving them out during the winter. 



' These fur boots are made of selected reindeer skin and 

 sewn with gut ; the sole is made from the covering of the fore- 

 head both on account of the thickness of the pelt in this part 

 and also to obtain the twist in the growth of the hair which 

 gives the boot a better chance of gripping on a slippery surface ; 

 the upper part of the'boot is made from neck-pieces and is soft 



