LIFE AT GEEMOVIALOCKE. 327 



period. We were not anxious about breaking ice, or having 

 to turn out to shift our tent. We had not seen any of our 

 comrades since the gale of separation, but we one and all 

 devoutly hoped that they were as well off that night as we 

 were. The next morning we were assigned another house 

 to live in, and we moved our goods and chattels and went 

 to housekeeping. We stayed in this house a few days, when 

 the native who loaned it signified that he desired to occupy 

 it, and he pointed out to us another one which he had 

 repaired especially for us. Accordingly we moved into it, 

 and it was our headquarters during the remainder of our 

 stay in this village. 



This hut or balogan*, typical of those seen in this village 

 and some distance further south, was some six and a-half or 

 seven feet high, and twelve feet square inside, with a fire- 

 place backing up in front of the door, which was a small 

 one, opening out, and in cold weather covered with skins to 

 keep in the warmth. These huts have also outer wings 

 made like a log cabin, in which are kept fuel, and various 

 articles of domestic use. The walls of the living apart- 

 ments are of logs placed vertically, with a flat roof laid on 

 big log rafters, and outside of this is a sodding of grass and 

 weeds. The windows are made of blocks of ice cut when 

 six or seven inches thick, and renewed as often as melted 

 through by the inside heat. The head of the hut abreast 

 the fire is the post of honor. As a rule, the men eat first, 

 being waited on by the women ; or, if the women cat at the 

 same time, it is at a separate table. 



The routine of our life at this time consisted in collecting 

 and splitting drift-wood ; preparing our fish and birds, many 

 of which were much decomposed but nevertheless very wel- 

 come ; sewing; some letter-writing; keeping our journals, and 

 regaining as much as possible our lost strength; also in 

 caring for those who had been badly injured by frost and 

 exposure. 



*A balogan is an inhabited native hut. 



