Dr King on the Industrial Arts of the Esquimaux. 117 



to the place from which the drop proceeds. By melting and 

 freezing alternately, innumerable icicles are formed on the 

 snow walls, which reflect the light like radiant diamonds.* 

 Although this is very beautiful, it is a source of great trouble 

 to the inhabitants, whose lungs become affected from repeated 

 colds and coughs. For this reason, although the houses are 

 formed of snow, coolness is the object always kept in view ; 

 and from the inexhaustible building materials always at 

 hand, but little time and labour is required to effect any al- 

 terations or additions that may be requisite for the purpose, 

 as exemplified in the instance of a native of Regent Inlet 

 who had closed in his roof within 45 minutes. t 



The interior appearance of these habitations is rendered 

 more beautiful when they are situated on the ice, which, 

 being cleared of snow, presents a flooring of that splendid 

 blue, which is perhaps one of the richest colours in nature. 

 If it should happen that the family is increased by births or 

 by the system of adoption in use amongst them, they have 

 to enlarge their buildings, which they effect by adding another 

 apartment, or by building a more roomy house over the old 

 one, and as it were concentric with it ; and when completed 

 the old one is removed from within. The natives of the River 

 Clyde were found by Sir Edward Parry inhabiting a hut 

 partly excavated from a bank facing the sea, and the rest 

 built round with stone ; a similar hut is figured in Mr Ellis's 

 work ; and Captain Cartwright informs us, that the winter 

 habitations of the natives of Labrador are hollowed out of a 

 drift bank of snow in the form of an oven. 



Equal in beauty to the snow-house is that constructed of 

 fresh-water ice. The material is collected in large transpa- 

 rent slabs, arranged in an octagonal form, and the roof formed 

 of walrus skin or snow. These dwellings are so transparent 

 that even at some paces distance it is possible to distinguish 

 those who stand within them ; yet they are so completely air- 

 tight as to be perfectly warm. J 



In regard to dress the Esquimaux, in design and execution, 

 may vie with the world, and the civilized traveller would do 



* Cartwright, t l^oss. X "i^yon. 



