514 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



earth's surface. The circle has an opening facing the 

 water, and is mostly divided into two parts by a row of 

 stones across. 



As regards the meaning of these " Tent-rings," there 

 can, even with our superficial knowledge of Esquimaux 

 life, be no doubt. They are the stones which once 

 fastened down the tent raised on that spot, and which, 

 on its removal, were left in the same place. The back 

 part must have been the general sleeping apartment, and 

 that near the entrance the place for the lamp-stand. 



As these tents must to a certain extent agree with 

 those used in West Greenland, we give the figure and 

 description as found in Egede's work : — 



" They live the whole of the summer in their summer 

 dwellings, which are nothing more than tents raised in 

 the following manner : — they set up some poles, or 

 laths, binding them together at the top and roofing 

 with a double covering, the interior being hung with 

 seal or reindeer skin, with the hair inside ; the outside, 

 on the contrary, of seal-skin from which the hair has 

 been taken, and then smeared with fat to prevent the 

 rain or water penetrating. In the inner part of the tent 

 they have a sleeping frame made of planks, on which 

 they all lie, and on which they place their lamp for 

 cooking. At the entrance, or door of the tent, is a 

 curtain made from the intestines of the seal, through 

 which the daylight comes. Every father of a family has 

 such a tent for his people." 



The remaining traces of the Esquimaux to be found 

 on the island at the present day, are the different 

 "Provision-holes," or " cac/ics," lying near the shore 

 and high up in the mountains. These are holes of 



