FOOD FOR A SLEDGE-FARTy 



the muffler was discarded, the helmet put on, and over 

 this the Burberry helmet, which has a stiff flap in 

 front that can be buttoned into a funnel shape. The 

 helmet and the fur mits were made fast to a length 

 of lamp-wick which was tied round the neck, so that 

 they could be removed temporarily without fear of 

 being lost. The sledge traveller wearing this gear 

 could be assured that his features and body would be 

 exempt from frost-bite under all ordinary circumstances. 

 Of course, in very low temperatures, or with a moder- 

 ately low temperature and a breeze blowing, it was 

 necessary occasionally to inspect each other's faces 

 for the sign of frost-bite, and if the white patch which 

 denotes this was visible, it had to be attended to at 

 once. 



Having considered the clothing, camping and cooking- 

 equipment of a sledge-party we now come to the impor- 

 tant item of food. The appetite of a man who has just 

 come to camp after a five-hours' march in a low tempera- 

 ture is a thing that the ordinary individual at home 

 would hardly understand, and, indeed, the sledger 

 himself has moments of surprise when, after finishing 

 his ration, he feels just about as hungry as when he 

 started. Much has been written on the subject of 

 food in most books on polar exploration, and in Captain 

 Scott's account of the Discovery expedition this matter 

 is dealt with in an interesting and exhaustive manner. 

 In selecting our supplies I had based my plans on the 

 experience gained by the previous expedition, and 

 for the sledging journeys I had tried to provide the 

 maximum amount of heat-giving and flesh-forming 

 materials, and to avoid as far as possible foods con- 

 taining a large amount of moisture, which means so 

 much dead weight to be carried. Our cuisine was not 

 very varied, but a voracious appetite has no nice dis- 



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