TENTS AND SLEEPING-BAGS 



or ice piled on it so that the form of the tent was like 

 that of an inverted convolvulus. Instead of a single tent 

 pole we used five male bamboo rods, eight feet six inches 

 in length, fastened together at one end in a cap, over 

 which the apex of the tent fitted. The bamboos 

 were stretched out, and the tent was slung over the 

 top, with the door, which took the form of a sort of 

 spout of Burberry material, on the lee side. This 

 Burberry spout was loose and could be tied up by 

 being gathered together when the occupants were 

 inside the tent, or could be left open when desired. 

 Inside the tent was placed on the snow a circle of thick 

 Willesden waterproof canvas to protect the sleeping- 

 bags from actual contact with the ground. The material 

 of which the tents were constructed appeared flimsy 

 and the bamboos were light, but one could trust them 

 with absolute confidence to encounter successfully the 

 fiercest blizzards of this exceptionally stormy part of the 

 world. There was no instance of damage to a tent owing 

 to bad weather during the expedition. 



The next important item of our equipment was the 

 sleeping-bag. It has been generally assumed by polar 

 explorers, despite our experience with the Discovery 

 expedition, that it is absolutely necessary for sledge 

 travellers to wrap themselves up in furs. We have 

 found this to be quite unnecessary, and I think that I 

 am justified, from my experience during two expedi- 

 tions in what is, undoubtedly, a more rigorous climate 

 than exists in the north polar regions, in stating that, 

 except for the hands and feet, in the way of personal 

 clothing, and the sleeping-bags for camping, furs are 

 entirely unnecessary. Our sleeping-bags, as I have 

 already stated, were made of hides of young reindeer. 

 The hide of the young reindeer is the most comfortable 

 fur that can be used for this purpose, being very close 



153 



