WE MAKE A START iiy 



moisture. Then the next process is to turn them inside 

 out, fill them with " sennegraes," or sedge, if one have 

 it, thrust one's feet in, and creep into the sleeping-bao- 

 with them on.* F"or milder weather later on we had 

 provided ourselves with leather boots of the " komager " 

 type, such as the Lapps use in summer. In this case 

 they were made of under-tanned ox-hide, with soles of 

 the skin of the blue seal {Phoca barbara); well rubbed in 

 with a com.position of tar and tallow, they make a wonder- 

 fully strong and water-tight boot, especially for use in wet 

 weather. Inside the "finsko" we used, at the beeinninof 

 of our journey, this "sennegraes" [Carex cFsicaria), of 

 which we had taken a supply. This is most effective in 

 keeping the feet dry and warm, and if used Lapp-wise, 

 i.e., with bare feet, it draws all moisture to itself. At 

 night the wet " sennegraes " must be removed from the 

 boots, well pulled out with the fingers, so that it does 

 not cling together, and then dried during the night by 

 being worn inside the coat or trousers-leg. In the morn- 

 ing it will be about dry, and can be pressed into the 

 boots again. Little by little, however, it becomes used 

 up, and if it is to last out a long journey a good supply 

 must be taken. 



We also had with us socks made of sheep's wool and 

 human hair, wiiicli were both warm and durable. Then, 

 too, we took squares of " vadmel," or Norweg-ian home- 



* Compare my description of " finsko," in The First Crossing of Green- 

 land, pp. 47 and 48. 



