170 AKCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VI. 



of these presented a scene no less novel than interesting. 

 The women were seated on the beds at the sides of the huts, 

 each having her little fire-place, or lamp, with all her do- 

 mestic utensils about her ; the children crept behind their 

 mothers, and the dogs, except the female ones, which were 

 indulged with a part of the beds, slunk out past us in dis- 

 may. The construction of this inhabited part of the huts 

 was similar to that of the outer apartment, being a dome 

 formed by separate blocks of snow, laid with great regu- 

 larity and no small art, each being cut into the shape re- 

 quisite to form a substantial arch, from seven to eight feet 

 high in the centre, and having no support whatever but what 

 this principle of building supplied. I shall not here further 

 describe the peculiarities of these curious edifices, remarking 

 only that a cheerful and sufficient light was admitted to 

 them by a circular window of ice, neatly fitted into the roof 

 of each apartment." — p. 106. 



When we reflect how many volumes have been 

 written, how much discussion has taken place, how 

 much learned conjecture, on the invention and 

 origin of the arch, even in this later age, what 

 merit are we prepared to bestow on one of the 

 most rude, the most simple, and most isolated race 

 of human beings that exist ? Nature, assisted per- 

 haps by observation, has taught this people the 

 true principle and construction of the arch. 



" We found," says Parry, " our new acquaint- 

 ance as desirous of pleasing us as we were ready to 

 be pleased." A favourable impression was made 

 on the first interview, which was not diminished 

 durino* a constant intercourse of three or four 

 months. These poor creatures, who, with all their 

 unfortunate race, have been thrown by fate into 



