In the service each man is allowed a black bag about three feet six inches high, and twelve inches in diameter, and a small wooden box, eighteen inches square, known as a "ditty box," to keep his wardrobe in.

All clothing is rolled, and careful sailors generally wrap each garment in a piece of muslin before consigning it to the black bag.

In the ditty box are kept such articles as toothbrush, brush and comb, small hand glass, writing material, and odds and ends.

Each bag and box is numbered, and must be kept in a certain place.

At first we thought it wouldn't be possible to keep our clothing in such a small space, but experience taught us that we would have ample room.
The following days until the eighth of May were days of manual labor, which hardened our muscles and placed a fine edge on our appetites.