i 9 02] PROTECTION OF HEAD, HANDS, & FEET 337 



tion are the extremities, and here, again, everyone had his own 

 ideas and his own patent devices. To face the cold of the 

 early spring we had thick camel-wool helmets provided with 

 gaberdine covers, but many of us found these too heavy, and 

 when they became coated with ice they were particularly 

 unmanageble. A better plan was to use one or two ordinary 

 woollen Balaclava helmets under the gaberdine cover. Per- 

 sonally, I used one, provided with an extra thickness of 

 material to cover those most sensitive organs, the ears. I 

 have already described the wind-guard which most of us wore 

 to protect the face. 



In summer, when the glare was very great, we wore broad- 

 rimmed felt hats, either over a Balaclava or fitted with a 

 special protection for the ears and back of the neck, which 

 could be lowered or tucked into the crown according to 

 circumstances. It is a great mistake to have too heavy a 

 head-covering ; the ice which inevitably forms on it in cold 

 weather is sufficient to make a light helmet comparatively 

 warm. 



On our hands, when sledging, we wore either fur or felt 

 mits over long woollen half-mits which extended from the 

 elbows to the knuckles. These half-mits were excellent 

 things, as one could draw them forward to assist one in 

 handling the cold metal cooking-utensils or could curl one's 

 fingers back under their protection when the tips became 

 particularly cold. Personally I swore by our wolfskin fur mits. 

 We wore them with the fur outside, and I lined mine with 

 light wool and found that one pair lasted me throughout each 

 of my extended sledge journeys. The most convenient plan 

 was to have these mits slung round the neck, as one could 

 then withdraw one's hands at will without the prospect of 

 finding the mits gone when one wished to resume them. For 

 taking observations and for other trying tasks it was very con- 

 venient to have a pair of light woollen mits or gloves, but of 

 these there was a great scarcity on board. 



Of all parts of the person of which it is necessary to have 

 care the feet are the most important, and for clothing the feet 



VOL, I. Z 



