The figure on the left has deerskin boots, the one on the right boots of musk-ox skin. Both have the sheepskin coat with bearskin roll about the face. The man on the right, boring a hole through the ice for a sounding, has pushed his hood back
The former engine will have but fifty per cent. of its power for performing its work, while the other will have essentially all its power for its work, and will be able to accomplish twice as much as the first.
There is no question in my mind that if Scott and his men had had the clothing outfit of my men and had known how to wear it, the conservation of heat and energy effected by it, would, in spite of short rations, have enabled them to pull through.
The members of my later sledge-parties were normally warm and comfortable nearly all of the time, and so could devote all their energies to travel.
Nature’s own insulation against cold—animal fur—and the wind-impervious integument of animal skin are the only materials for this purpose. This is nature’s own protection to her warm-blooded animals living in those same regions. Once stated, the proposition is so simple as to be self-evident. If further proof were needed, there is the example of the Eskimos, whose sole clothing is fur of animals and feathers of birds.
Believing their dress perfect for conditions under which they use it, I have adopted it with slight modifications for my parties.
As so modified, the clothing outfit for every member of my party, including the Eskimos, was as follows:
One short-hooded coat of selected deerskin.
One short-hooded working-coat of selected sheepskin.
One blanket or flannel shirt.