THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



and thick. The term "bag" literally describes this 

 portion of the sledging-gear. It is a long bag, with 

 closely sewn seams, and is entered by means of a slit 

 at the upper end. A flap comes down over the head 

 of the occupant, and a toggle on the flap fastens into 

 an eye at the mouth of the bag; thus secured, one 

 can sleep in more or less comfort, according to the 

 temperature. 



The clothing usually worn for sledging-work con- 

 sisted of thick Jaeger underclothing, heavy blue pilot- 

 cloth trousers, a Jaeger pyjama jacket for coat, and over 

 this, as our main protection against cold and wind, 

 the Burberry , blouse and trousers. On the hands we 

 wore wollen gloves and then fur mits, and on the feet 

 several pair of heavy woollen socks and then finnesko. 

 Any one feeling the texture and lightness of the 

 Burberry material would hardly believe that it answers 

 so well in keeping out the cold and wind and in offering, 

 during a blizzard, a complete protection against the 

 fine drifting snow that permeates almost anything. 

 Some of our party wore a pair of Burberry trousers 

 over the Jaeger underclothing throughout the winter, 

 and did not feel the need of the cloth trousers at all. 

 The head-gear, which is another item of one's equip- 

 ment especially important as regards comfort, was a 

 matter upon which there were marked differences of 

 opinion. The most general method of keeping the 

 head and ears warm was to wrap a woollen muffler 

 twice round the chin and head, thus forming protection 

 for the ears, which are the first part of the body to 

 show signs of frost-bite; the muffler was then brought 

 round one's neck, and over the muffler was pulled 

 what is known as a fleecy travelling cap, a woollen 

 helmet, in appearance something like an old-time 

 helmet without the visor. If a blizzard were blowing 



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