i 9 02] INSTRUMENTS AND IMPLEMENTS 333 



case, for taking observations of the sun and bearings, two small 

 aneroids, a compass, two thermometers, a hypsometer, a small 

 book containing logarithmic tables, and a camera, with plates. 

 On this journey we took the half-plate camera with its slide- 

 box, and although one almost groaned on seeing the weight it 

 added, there can be little source of regret when one contem- 

 plates the pictures which Mr. Skelton managed to produce with 

 its assistance. 



Alpine rope was a thing one scarcely liked to be without 

 when travelling in a country where crevasses abounded ; the 

 thought of a companion possibly hung up in one of these and 

 his fellow men unable to reach him for lack of rope, was too 

 grim to be thrust aside. The repair-bag was an important 

 item ; it contained the housewife, with needles, thread, &c, to 

 repair our garments, a few strips of material to patch the tent, 

 with sail needles and a palm, some hide thongs, some tough 

 pieces of reindeer-skin for boots, and some spun yarn for 

 lashings. A tool-bag was also very necessary, and contained 

 pliers, files, a bradawl, a gimlet, &c., with some screws, nails, 

 and binding wire for the repair of the sledges. The sounding- 

 line and lead were provided for sounding and taking tempera- 

 tures in crevasses, but it was rarely possible to use them. The 

 tape was also for glacier measurements, whilst the sledge 

 brakes were introduced in hopes of saving the sledges on the 

 down grade over slippery ice. They were of hemp, and proved 

 of very little use. 



We took ski boots on this journey in hopes of being able 

 to use ski, and thinking they might be of service on the 

 glacier ; we used neither the ski nor the boots, and ' depoted ' 

 the latter at a very early stage in the journey. The ski we took 

 on, thinking always they might be required, but never finding 

 that they were so. 



And here I should like to explain my attitude towards ski, 

 more especially as since Nansen's journeys it has been very 

 generally thought that they have revolutionised the methods of 

 polar travel. I have mentioned in former chapters how 

 delighted we were with our ski practice, and I have also called 



