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THE ESKIMOS. 137 



the front portion of the dwelling. The back part, about 

 two- thirds of the apartment, is three feet higher than 

 the entrance. 



The front or lower section of the igloe corresponds 

 a front hall, and it is in it that the occupants, as they 

 ter, beat the snow off their clothing, or remove their 

 ter garments, when they wish to step up into the 

 higher living apartment. 



The floor of the entire igloe consists simply of snow, 

 iut in this upper apartment it is well covered with 

 deer-skin robes, so that it is not melted by the warmth 

 of those who sit or lie upon it. 



Above the doorway of the igloe is placed a window 

 to admit light into the dwelling. This is formed of a 

 large square slab of ice, neatly inserted into the wall of 

 the dome, and it serves well the purpose for which it is 

 intended, admitting a pleasant soft light. Above the 

 window a much-needed ventilating hole is usually made, 

 is, because of the passing current of warm air, becomes 

 pidly enlarged, and requires to be frequently plastered 

 up with snow. 



Sometimes one of the long approaches or corridors is 

 made to serve for two or three dwellings, each of which 

 is connected by low archways with the innermost of the 

 smaller domes. Usually, opening out of the inner dome, 

 each family has one or two small pantries, where they 

 keep a supply of meat sufficient for a week or two. 



The furniture of the snow-house is much the same as 

 that of the skin topick already described, but the 

 stone lamps come more into prominence, contributing 

 light to the dwelling during the long dark winter nights. 

 These lamps are simply stone vessels, usually half 



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