294 



Knud Rasmussen. 



the hut; the hght then shows through all such crevices, making the 



work of locating and caulking them much easier, especially, of course, 



when it is dark outside. 



The floor is then cut away from inside round the entrance hole, 



making a deep furrow in front of the bed place. This last takes up 



most of the room; it 

 is also a good idea 

 to have a couple of 

 extra beds one at 

 either side, leaving a 

 space in the middle 

 for the blubber lamps. 

 A layer of sealskins 

 is then laid on the 

 beds, and over these, 

 reindeer or musk ox 

 hides, or whatever 

 thick furs are avail- 

 able, making a warm 

 and most comfortable 

 bed. If one wishes to 

 sleep perfectly naked, 

 a great comfort, and 

 easily practicable in 

 a snow hut, all that 

 is necessary is to lay 

 one's sleeping bag on 

 the bed and crawl 

 in. When thoroughly 

 tirod out, no better 

 couch could be de- 

 sired. 



As soon as the 



gear outside has been 



fixed up so as to 



prevent all risk of 



these latter properly 



UVDLORIAQ. 



depredations on the part of the dogs, and 

 secured, one can move in. Two small Eskimo blubber lamps with 

 long wicks of moss are then lit, and when finally the entrance has 

 been carefully closed with a big block of snow, the place is as cosy 

 and comfortable as any peasant's cottage at home. 



On starting out over the inland ice with a more or less complete 

 Eskimo equipment we were well aware that our undertaking was 

 something of a departure from the methods hitherto regarded as 

 traditional in such cases. The only previous inland journeys of any 



