FOOTGEAR AND MITS 



of repairing gear, such as sinew, needles and waxed 

 thread. 



I have mentioned that sennegrass is used in the 

 flnnesko. This is a dried grass of long fibre, with a 

 special quality of absorbing moisture. I bought fifty 

 kilos (109.37 lb.) in Norway for use on the expedition. 

 The grass is sold in wisps, bound up tightly, and when 

 the flnnesko are being put on, some of it is teased out 

 and a pad placed along the sole under the foot. Then 

 when the boot has been pulled on more grass is stuffed 

 round the heel. The grass absorbs the moisture that 

 is given off from the skin, and prevents the sock freezing 

 to the sole of the boot, which would then be difficult 

 to remove at night. The grass is pulled out at night, 

 shaken loose, and allowed to freeze. The moisture 

 that has been collected congeals in the form of frost, 

 and the greater part of it can be shaken away before 

 the grass is replaced on the following morning. The 

 grass is gradually used up on the march, and it is neces- 

 sary to take a fairly large supply, but it is very light and 

 takes up little room. 



I ordered from Mr. Moller sixty pairs of wolfskin 

 and dogskin mits, made with the fur outside, and suffi- 

 ciently long to protect the wrists. The mits had one 

 compartment for the four fingers and another for the 

 thumb, and they were worn over woollen gloves. They 

 were easily slipped off when the use of the fingers was 

 required, and they were hung round the neck with 

 lamp-wick in order that they might not get lost on the 

 march. The only other articles of equipment I ordered 

 in Norway were twelve pairs of ski, which were supplied 

 by Messrs. Hagen and Company. They were not used 

 on the sledging journeys at all, but were useful around 

 the winter quarters. I stipulated that all the goods 



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