FARTHEST NORTH WITH GREELY 



The sleeping-bag is one of the most important articles 

 in the equipment of the Arctic explorer. It is made in 

 the form of an envelope opening from the end, is somewhat 

 narrow at the lowest part, the hair turned inward, and is 

 provided with a large flap which may be drawn over the 

 exposed end and secured with thongs. The best bag is 

 made of reindeer skin, but well-tanned dog, sheep, or buf- 

 falo skin may be used with good results. An outer enve- 

 lope of oil-tanned sealskin renders the bag impervious to 

 water and contributes much to the warmth and comfort of 

 the occupant. The majority of our bags were made of 

 buffalo skin, without the protecting outer covering, and 

 when spread ready to be occupied, with only a single rub- 

 ber blanket between them and the frozen snow, their ap- 

 pearance did not inspire confidence and they were never 

 inviting. Frequently two and sometimes three men occupy 

 the same bag. The obvious advantage of this arrangement 

 is that the sleepers keep each other warm; the disadvantage, 

 equally obvious, is the impracticability of individual action, 

 the close quarters rendering it impossible to change one's 

 position without the contemporaneous shifting of one's 

 companions. A sleeping-bag is indispensable, but it is 

 uninviting and uncomfortable at best, and certainly is not 

 conducive to pleasant dreams. 



On the second morning Henry complained of rheumatic 

 pains and a sprained knee, and asserted that he could not 

 proceed further, so Lieutenant Lockwood ordered him to 

 return home. Connell discovered that one of his feet had 

 been frostbitten during the night, but with characteristic 

 pluck he determined to go on with the party and took his 

 place in the drag ropes. After painfully, hobbling along 

 for some time on his blistered foot, he reluctantly turned 

 back and joined Henry. This reduced the force of the 

 supporting party so materially, that Jewell was detached 

 from the dog sledge and sent to assist us. 



At 7 A. M., April 10, we reached the Boat Camp which 

 Lieutenant Lockwood had designated as a supply depot. 

 The upturned boat and a few fragments of the tent aban- 

 doned by the " Polaris " party in 1872 were the only 

 evidence that the spot had ever before been visited by man. 



During our stay at this camp our time was fully occupied 



63 



