138 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



moon shaped, and formed neatly of some description of 

 soft rock. The rounding side of the vessel is made 

 much deeper than the other, which shoals up gradually 

 to the edge. The wick of the lamp consists of dried 

 decomposed moss, pressed and formed by the fingers 

 into a narrow ridge across the shallow or straight edge 

 of the dish. In this position it absorbs the seal oil 

 which is placed in the vessel, and when lit, burns with 

 a clear bright flame, free from smoke. The lamp is 

 then made self-feeding by suspending a lump of seal 

 blubber above it, at a height varying according to the 

 amount of light and consequent supply of oil required. 

 This melts with the heat of the flame and drips into 

 the vessel of the lamp. One lump keeps up the supply 

 for a considerable length of time, the intensity of light 

 being increased or dimished at will by lowering or 

 raising the lump of blubber suspended above the flame, 



A lamp is usually placed at either side of the en- 

 trance in the upper apartment. Both are kept burning 

 brightly the greater part of the long cold, dark days of 

 winter, but during the hours of sleep they are " turned 

 down," that is, the lumps of blubber are raised ; or 

 sometimes one lamp is extinguished and the other made 

 to burn dimly. These lamps, though chiefly designed 

 to furnish light, also contribute a considerable amount 

 of heat to the igloes. It is often necessary to turn 

 them down, to prevent the snow walls from being 

 melted by the heat, though the temperature outside may 

 be 40 or 50 degrees below zero. 



Towards spring the snow-houses become very damp,, 

 and to prevent the roofs from being melted away fresh 

 snow has to be added to the outside. Before they are 



