188 H. P. STEENSBY. 
In any case three forms can be mentioned which occur with the Eskimo, 
although with a limited distribution. These three ferms are the North- 
West Indian houses of planks, the pile-dwelling, and also the double 
winter tent, originating from the reindeer nomads, and now adopted 
and used by the Asiatic Eskimo and the Eskimo in St. Lawrence Island}, 
The North-West Indian plank-house, which at times occurs in the 
form of a log-house, is still found with the Chukches as a winter dwelling, 
and it is also said to occur with the Kenai-Indians. With the Eskimo 
in South Alaska we immediately, however, find an earth-covered house 
as a winter dwelling, while the plank-house occurs as a summer dwelling 
in the summer settlements, which are inhabited during the fishing season. 
Where the forest ceases the plank-house disappears, and the skin tent 
predominates as a summer dwelling?. 
While the Eskimo have got this plank-house from the North-West 
Indians they have got the pile-dwelling from North-East Asia. It is a 
well known fact that Palæasiatic people in North-East Asia, such as 
the Gilyaks and Kamchadales, use the pile-dwelling as their summer 
residence. The origin of this pile-work form, however, points still further 
south across Japan and right to South-East Asia. In Alaska, the pile- 
dwelling as a summer dwelling has already been mentioned from the 
islands in Bering Strait, and in this connection is especially known from 
King’s Island. But it also occurs on the coast of Alaska itself; not, 
however, as a dwelling but as a store-house. Thus PETROFF* says about 
the Kuskoquim district “the store-houses of all the Eskimo tribes are 
set on posts at a height of from 8—10 feet above the ground, to protect 
them against foxes, wolves, and dogs.” 
According to Мовросн the pile-work structure is found at Point 
Barrow in the form of stands for preserving and drying meat and such 
like, and similar stands are found again right towards the east, for in- 
stance in Baffin Land, and also in Greenland, where they are commonly 
employed. . 
We now come to THALBITZER’S three types of winter houses, with 
regard to which I shall first remark that main stress must be laid on 
the groundplan and manner of construction. while the material employed 
ranks only secondarily; as, in this respect, one employs what lies ready 
to hand. Naturally it alters the house if whales’ bones are adopted after 
wood has been employed, or if, perhaps, stone is exclusively used. But 
the point is to discover the original type just through such alterations 
as are involved. 
Firstly [ mention “the pear-shaped house.” This is built by 
exclusively employing stones and turf, and by that alone betrays itself 
1 Bocoraz, р. 180. 
> SARFERT, р. 54. 
3 PETROFF, р. 128; cf. Newson, I, р. 244. 
