512 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



SO on. It must, moreover, be remembered that tliere was 

 no opening in the walls of any kind, and that neither for 

 air or light was there a window in the roof (which such 

 circumstances might warrant, and which is the case with 

 some Esquimaux tribes). The only opening leading to 

 the dwellings from the outer world, is the before-men- 

 tioned small square hole in the floor leading to the 

 narrow underground tunnel. Through this they went in 

 and out, and through this the air was renewed. 



The train-oil lamp for lighting and cooking purposes 

 is the only compensation for the absence of a stove. 

 And yet one can imagine how with that and the inha- 

 bitants together in this confined space, the temperature 

 may be kept at a considerable height, if the walls are only 

 thick and tight, and the wind unable to blow in. 



These huts, therefore, do not stand on the earth as is 

 mostly the case in West Greenland, but are half under- 

 ground, and with their grass-covered roofs greatly 

 resemble mole-heaps on a garden-bed. 



About thirty paces from the stony, gently sloping shore, 

 looking south, were ten graves, five of which were in good 

 preservation. They were from ten to sixteen feet above 

 the level of the sea, and consisted of a sort of box, con- 

 structed of suitable stones mostly above the surface of 

 the earth. The interior was one yard and a half long and 

 tAvo-thirds broad, the height of the walls about half a 

 yard. On one of the graves, which was still undisturbed, 

 the covering was composed of long flat stones laid across, 

 such as are easily found in the neighbourhood. This 

 grave we at once examined. The bottom of it, which 

 was nearly upon the same level as the outer earth, was 

 covered with a quantity of dried willow leaves, which in 



