to keep the fingers warm when in contact with
one another than by having them in separate stalls.

Instrument-gloves of wool were used for delicate manipulations, as a
partial protection, since they reduced the stinging chill of cold metal
at low temperatures.

Wolfskin mitts are unexcelled for use in cold windy weather. Their
shaggy external hair entangles the drift-snow, which thaws, soaks the
skin and refreezes until the mitt is stiff as buckram. This is their
main disadvantage. These mitts or rather gauntlets were made longer in
the arms than usual so as to overlap the burberry sleeves and keep the
wrists warm.

Lambskin mitts with the wool facing inwards were very useful and wore
well for occupations like hauling on ropes and lifting cases.

Like every other movable thing, mitts had to be made fast to prevent
them blowing away. So they were slung round the neck by a yoke of
lamp-wick. The mittened hand could then be removed with the assurance
that the outer mitt would not be far away when it was wanted, no matter
how hard the wind blew.

There has been much discussion as to the relative merits of fur and
woollen clothing. After all the question has resolved itself into one
of personal predilection. It has been claimed that furs are warmer and
lighter. The warmth follows from the wind-proof quality of the hide
which, unfortunately, also tends to retain moist exhalations from the
body. In Adelie Land, the only furs we used were finnesko, wolfskin
mitts and sleeping-bags of reindeer skins.

As in every part of the equipment, modifications had to be made in the
circular Willesden-drill tents. To facilitate their erection in the
perpetual winds they were sewn permanently on to the five bamboo poles,
instead of being thrown over the latter previously set in position. Thus
the tents opened like large conical umbrellas. A rawhide loop was fixed
to the middle one of the three windward legs and, when raising a tent
during a high wind, it was the usual thing for a man to be inside
gripping the loop to pin down the windward legs and at the same time,
kicking out the two leeward legs. On hard surfaces, holes were dug to
receive the ends of the poles; at other times they were pressed home
into the snow by the man inside the tent.

When pitched, the tent was held down by blocks of snow or ice, helped
by spare food-bags, which were all piled round on a broad flounce.
Ventilators, originally supplied with the tents, had to