That this was successful is shown in their diaries.
"Day by day goes by much the same as one another. We work; we talk;
we eat. Ah, how we eat! No longer on short rations, we are a trifle
more exacting than we were when we first commenced our 'simple life,'
but by comparison with home standards we are positive barbarians, and
our gastronomic rapacity knows no bounds.
"All is eaten that comes to each tent, and everything is most
carefully and accurately divided into as many equal portions as there
are men in the tent. One member then closes his eyes or turns his head
away and calls out the names at random, as the cook for the day points
to each portion, saying at the same time, 'Whose?'
"Partiality, however unintentional it may be, is thus entirely
obviated and every one feels satisfied that all is fair, even though
one may look a little enviously at the next man's helping, which
differs in some especially appreciated detail from one's own. We break
the Tenth Commandment energetically, but as we are all in the same boat
in this respect, no one says a word. We understand each other's
feelings quite sympathetically.
"It is just like school-days over again, and very jolly it is too, for
the time being!"
Later on, as the prospect of wintering in the pack became more
apparent, the rations had to be considerably reduced.
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