BUILDING A HOUSE. 27 



their reindeer from their dwellings to secrete them- 

 selves among the fastnesses of their hills. They had 

 akeady found out the gradations in rank, and made 

 selection of their favourites, and never visited us 

 vrithout bringing as presents, or for barter, articles of 

 dress or ornament, reindeer, w^alrus, seal, and even 

 whales' flesh. On the Captain's paying a visit to 

 Woorel, which, as nearest to the ship (at about 

 four miles distance), was at first exclusively visited, a 

 token of kindly consideration was evinced by Akoull, 

 who sent up a reindeer skin as a present to one of the 

 officers who was not of the party. 



The house on shore, intended for bread-baking, 

 washing, and other purposes, was a rare proof of what 

 may be performed with slight means by ingenuity and 

 perseverance. Its walls were composed of large stones, 

 dug with great labour from the stony soil, and of 

 gravelly shingle from the beach, where it existed in 

 considerable quantities : the sloping roof w^as a com- 

 bination of rafters, tm'f, tarpaulin, and a sheet of w^iale- 

 gut, obtained from the natives. Its extent was twenty 

 feet by twelve; and a door and windoAv looked to 

 the southward. Perhaps the most remarkable feature 

 of the affair was the fire-place or stove. An iron 

 tar-cask, cylindrical in form, was given to our 

 ingenious blacksmith, who cut two folding-doors in it. 



