Preparations for our personal outfits were made in New 
York very largely, with only finishing touches put on at 
Tromsoe. 
Furs, suggesting themselves first of all, are undesirable 
for a summer voyage, absorbing moisture too readily. Fogs 
are incessant at this season, and a water-soaked garment in 
freezing winds would be little comfort. With the coming 
of Arctic winter and the disappearance of these fogs, on the 
other hand, furs become imperative. 
Off Spitzbergen, where the climate is fairly mild, aboard 
ship, in dry weather, corduroy suits were worn. Garments 
of “loden,” a heavy woolen stuff, much the same as that worn 
in the Tyrol, were found best for general wear. This mate¬ 
rial is of a dark brown or gray, waterproof, and, while thick, 
not too heavy for walking. 
Two of the men had fleece-lined leather coats,—sources of 
great comfort. Negligee shirts, of fine chamois skin, soft and 
pliable as flannel, but impervious to cold, were another boon. 
While caps and hats were of various sorts; close-fitting 
wool caps, with small openings for the face, were preferred 
when winds blew cold. 
Boots were made large enough to fit over two pair of 
stockings—a fine woolen one for next the foot; the other, a 
long, heavy, knitted woolen sock. Boots, lacing high and re¬ 
sembling hunting-boots; but of soft, waterproofed, chrome- 
tanned leather and heavily hob-nailed, were favorites. 
Sailing away from the haunts of men, a thousand and one 
things must be taken. Bedding was one; blankets, but not 
sheets, (for in a damp latitude these would be decidedly chilly; 
hoar-frost often appearing where the breath came in contact 
with the blankets), and eider-down comforters, converted to 
sleeping-bags, were others. 
In regard to batteries, the Doctor and I selected so-called 
high-power Winchesters; the two ladies and Carl were to 
shoot with a 303 Savage rifle. As far as the writer was con¬ 
cerned, the Winchesters proved dismal failures; bullets cut 
from the animals afterward having failed, in almost every 
case, to expand properly. The Savage showed up well.* 
"Note.—Cf. 22 Frontispiece. 
[25] 
