THE COMMISSARIAT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13921, 27 March 1909, Page 5

THE COMMISSARIAT.

The commissariat arrangements were under the care of Mr. W. Roberts, and he had no hesitation in describing the quality of the stores, especially the tinned food, as excellent. The stores were only drawn once a day after July 3, and the meals consisted mainly of tinned fish, tinned meat, and dried milk. Whenever seals or penguins were procurable they were used as food, and were largely instrumental in preventing scurvy. -They were cooked, stewed/ and served in various ways, and provided excellent' food, especially seal liver. The vegetables were all dried, and these added a welcome variation to the diet. When the Koonya left the party after towing the Nimrod to the ice, she put ten live sheep ashore, and they provided mutton on Sundays lmtil October. The penguins left the ice ,in the winter months, and, yin order to have a supply, tho party' captured a large number, and, after killing them; buried them in the snow to preserve them. Mr. Roberts stated that the party developed a great liking for sweets, especially sugar and jams, for they increased the temperature of the body. Consequently these formed a prominent part of the menu. The stores taken away,were ample for all requirements, and a good portion was left behind for any future expedition that might attempt to reach the South Pole. Breakfast was served at nine o'clock m the morning, "stand-up" lunch at one o'clock in the afternoon, tea; at four o'clock, and dinner at 6.30; in tho summer months breakfast was served an hour earlier.