



THE ESKIMOS, 135 



eyes were filled with hot salt. I speak from expe- 

 rience. 



In order to guard against the occurrence of snow-blind- 

 ness, the Eskimos wear a very ingenious contrivance, 

 in the form of wooden goggles. These are neatly 

 carved so as to fit over the nose, and close in to the 

 kets of the eyes. Instead of colored glasses, which 

 e Eskimos have no means of getting, these goggles are 

 made with narrow horizontal slits, just wide enough to 

 allow the wearer to see through. Thus the excess of light 

 is excluded, while the sight is not entirely obstructed. 



Like many people in southern Canada, the native of 

 the frozen zone possesses a summer and winter residence, 

 and occupies each in turn as regularly as the seasons 

 ange. His winter dwelling is built of snow ; his sum- 

 er lodge is made of oil-tanned seal or deer-skins, neatly 

 wn together, and supported by poles, if such can be 

 rocured, or pieces of drift-wood spliced together. A 

 ap is left for the door, but there is no opening at the 

 p, as in the Indian wigwam or tepee, for, having no 

 re, they have no need of a chimney. 



The atmosphere of these tents or " topicks," as they 

 are called, is usually very sickening to one not accus- 

 tomed to them, for the skins of which they are made are 

 dressed in their natural oil in order to make them 

 water-proof, which has the effect of making them rank 

 and odorous to a degree. 



Topicks vary in size, according to the wealth or re- 

 quirements of the occupants. Sometimes they are 

 scarcely large enough to allow two or three little people 

 to huddle into them, while others are quite commodious, 

 capable of seating twenty persons. The commonest form 



