"The prisoners eyed the clothes some time, and laughed a good deal among themselves before they put them on"

This quote by Lewis Tappan recommends that the prisoners were initially amused by the clothing they were given. It is likely that the clothes were not of the greatest quality, and the detainees were likely surprised by the sight of them. The prisoners' laughter might have been a result of the absurdity of the circumstance, or maybe the clothes were so bad that they discovered it humorous. It is likewise possible that the prisoners were making fun of the concept of having to wear the clothes, as they might have been unpleasant or ill-fitting. Whatever the reason, the detainees' laughter suggests that they were not taking the scenario too seriously, and were rather finding some humor in it. Eventually, the prisoners place on the clothing, suggesting that they wanted to accept the circumstance and make the best of it.