174 CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



and it can never be recommended strongly enough, as besides 

 making the tent warm it saves the material of which the tent 

 is built from the constant wear and tear of flapping in the 

 wind. 



The weight of our tent with stays, sticks, etc., was a little 

 less than 21 Ibs. It is a comparatively large weight, but it 

 pays. 



The furniture of the tent consisted of a piece of oilcloth, 

 which we spread on the top of the ice to prevent the sleeping 

 bags from direct contact with the snow, but it cracked, and, 

 although it helped to save the bags a little, it was not quite 

 satisfactory. Our experience is that it would be much better 

 to carry a tanned deerskin and spread it with the hairy side 

 downwards on the snow. 



We were each of us provided with a sleeping bag, as we 

 thought it wise to remove as many causes for complaint and 

 ill-feeling against each other as possible. A dry sleeping bag 

 is the greatest comfort imaginable, but it can only be secured 

 if we are sufficiently careful to brush the snow off our clothes 

 before we crawl in. It is to each man's own interest to get off 

 as much snow as possible, but it is not every one who is 

 sufficiently awake to the fact that only so can the sleeping bag 

 be kept dry and comfortable. Men often crawl in with more 

 snow on their clothes than their sleeping comrades think wise, 

 and everybody being as a rule touchy on the trail, words will 

 pass, while the offender, of course, cannot see that he has 

 neglected to brush the snow off his clothing, but thinks that 

 the protesting party has sadly neglected his duty in this respect 

 the result of which is apt to be a quarrel, not easily forgotten 

 on the trail. 



Apart from this, single sleeping bags are slightly colder and 

 weigh a little more. But in a party where single sleeping bags 

 are used each man is responsible for his own, and it is no one 

 else's business. It is also a kind of private store-room for spare 

 clothing, for diaries, and any other small article which the 

 individual carries on the trail. 



Our bags were covered with thin drilling, which is very 

 advisable, as it makes the bag considerably warmer, and to a 

 certain extent prevents snow and moisture from getting rubbed 

 into the skin. 





