NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 121 



pack it away in seal skins for future use. This 

 is all the bread they have. 



HUTS. 



A brief description of the huts of the natives 

 may not be out of place in this connection. 



The huts are generally round, differing in size 

 in proportion to the family, and averaging, per- 

 haps, from twelve to thirty feet in diameter. The 

 lower part of the hut, and to the height of four 

 or five feet, is well secured with upright stakes, 

 situated a few feet apart, and fastened to each 

 other by cords of walrus skin. The huts, and 

 especially those where we were located during 

 the winter, were not made partly underground, 

 as was the case with some we saw in the direc- 

 tion of East Cape, but so constructed on the sur- 

 face of the ground as to be easily taken down 

 and removed. 



From the lower, or upright part, the roof ex- 

 tended in an oval form to the height of ten or 

 twelve feet. At the termination of the top, or 

 apex, there is an opening, which is closed or 

 otherwise, according to the state of the weather. 

 This opening affords about all the egress to the 

 smoke of the lamps and fire, when made in the 

 huts. It is very rarely, however, that fire is made 

 in the huts. 



