ARCTIC AMERICA AND GREENLAND 



521 



100 cubic feet of space per inmate 

 could suffice. In the only room in 

 the house a bench or ledge runs 

 along the wall opposite to the win- 

 dows, and is divided by the help of 

 low screens into separate stalls or 

 recesses for the families. The walls 

 are hung with skins, and the floor 

 is paved with flat stones." To this 

 excellent account it should be added 

 that from the roof is suspended the 

 lamp; while on suitable supports 

 from the same are hung the spare 

 harpoons, lances, etc. The heat of 

 the interior prevents water freezing; 

 and the centre of the floor is con- 

 sequently in most cases occupied by 

 a more or less dirty and offensive 

 pool. In the Danish settlements 

 in Greenland, as well as in parts of 

 Labrador, houses of a much superior 

 description to the above are now 

 frequently erected; but as these are 

 of European origin, they require no 

 detailed mention in this place. 

 Generally the dogs are allowed to 

 shelter themselves in the entrance- 

 tunnel; but sometimes even this 

 protection is denied them, and they 

 are compelled to brave the terrors of 

 an Arctic winter night. 



It has been incidentally men- 

 tioned that an Eskimo house in Green- 

 land is the abode of two or more families; but this is a custom confined to that country, other 

 Eskimo having a house for each family. Throughout the greater part of Eskimoland public 

 buildings of any description are totally unknown; but council-chambers have been said to exist 

 in Labrador. With the return of the sun the winter-huts are everywhere discarded for the skin- 

 tents in which the summer and autumn months are passed. These' tents are single-poled, and 

 of the familiar bell-shape; but a very large open space is left at the entrance, which is framed 

 with wood, upon which the covering is stretched. The cover is double, and formed of seal-skins, 

 neatly sewn together. To exclude draughts and wet, the lower edge of the tent is affixed to 

 a raised ring of stones and turf. A curtain made of seal-gut closes the entrance to the tent; 

 this material being sufficiently translucent to afford a good supply of light to the inmates. 

 A fireplace is constructed outside. 



The following summary of the yearly life of the Labrador Eskimo is taken from an 

 account given by a Moravian missionary. From May till December the various families are 

 scattered along the coasts at their fishing-stations. When the men return in May from 

 reindeer-hunting, they proceed to the islands near the shore for sealing; and here they 

 remain till the end of June, when the coast ice has melted. Going back in their kayaks to 

 their winter-quarters, the men then bring up their larger boats (now often sailing-vessels), in 

 which they take their families for trout-fishing up the rivers; after which follows the great 

 harvest of the cod-fishery. In autumn reindeer-hunting is resumed, while from November till 



66 



From Prince Roland Bonaparte's Collection. 



A NORTH AMERICAN BRAVE. 



