58 



HOUSES. 



SNOW-HOUSES (igluvrgwq). 



The art of building snow-houses is still practised by the 

 Labrador Eskimo north of Hopedale. In southern Labrador, 

 the custom has so nearly died out that the missionaries hold 

 snow-building contests to keep alive the ancient art. 



The Eskimo of the east Labrador coast, particularly those 

 around the Moravian stations, live for the most part in wooden 

 huts. These little cabins form their permanent homes, but 

 when out on hunting trips they have recourse to the indispen- 

 sable snow-house shelter. White men, travelling in this section 

 on long trips, take along native guides for building snow-houses. 

 When they camp at night a small snow-house is quickly built, 

 which is a most efhcient shelter from the storms that otherwise 

 might overwhelm them. 



The spot having been selected for a camp, the Eskimo tests 

 an adjacent snowbank with his boots to see if it has the requisite 

 firmness, or he thrusts his long snow-knife (pun'a-') (Plate 

 XXII B a) into it. For building purposes, the Eskimo prefer 

 the "living" snow {ca^urla'ktaq) , i.e., snow which will adhere 

 when the blocks are placed together. Such snow is found in a 

 newly-made drift which has begun to harden. 



Across the surface of the snow-drift, the Eskimo cuts an 

 oblong trench, the length of which equals the diameter of the 

 house. It will average 5 feet in length, 2 or 3 feet in width, 

 and 20 inches in depth. From the face of the trench, he cuts 

 blocks (carilu'gtaq) about 6 inches thick, 30 inches long, and 20 

 inches deep. The blocks are cut in semi-circular shape, with the 

 inner edge slightly concave, so that when set up they lean 

 inward. 



The first line of blocks form the first tier of the snow-house, 

 and material for the rest of the house is found within the ever 

 lessening circle, so that the builder works within his ascending 

 house, cutting out his material as he builds. One man only is 



