374 AVOYAGETO 



•779- Krafcheninicoff, I mall proceed to a defcription of their ha- 



Oclober. ■ 



bitations and drefs. 



The houfes (if they may be allowed that name) are of 

 three diftinct forts, jourts, balagans> and loghoufes, called here 

 ijbas. The firlt are their winter, the fecond their fummer 

 habitations ; the third arc altogether of Ruffian intro- 

 duction, and inhabited only by the better and wealthier 

 fort. 



The jourts, or winter habitations, are conftructed in the 

 following manner : An oblong fquare, of dimenfions pro- 

 portioned to the number of perfons for whom it is intended 

 (for it is proper to obferve, that feveral families live toge- 

 ther in the fame jourt) is dug in the earth to the depth of 

 about fix feet. Within this fpace, ftrong pofts, or wooden 

 pillars, are fattened in the ground, at proper distances from 

 each other, on which are extended the beams for the fup- 

 port of the roof, which is formed by joifts, refting on the 

 ground with one end, and on the beams with the other. 

 The interftices between the joifts are filled up with a ftrong 

 wicker-work, and the whole covered with turf; fo that a 

 jourt has externally the appearance of a round fquat hillock. 

 A hole is left in the center, which ferves for chimney, win- 

 dow, and entrance, and the inhabitants pafs in and out by 

 means of a ftrong pole (inftcad of a ladder) notched juft 

 deep enough to afford a little holding to the toe. There is 

 likewife another entrance in the fide, even with the ground, 

 for the convenience of the women ; but if a man makes 

 ufc of it, he fubjects himfelf to the fame difgracc and dc- 

 rilion, as a failor would, who defcends through lubbers- 

 hole. The jourt confifts of one apartment, of the form of 

 an oblong fquare. Along the fides arc extended broad plat- 

 forms 



