A FRAGMENT OF HISTORY 171 



ing off they are taken out to be reheated and dropped 

 once more into the water, which finally boils. The 

 result of such cooking is a mixture of soot, mud, 

 ashes, and half-raw flesh ; but with their hearty appe- 

 tites the Eskimos are not over-particular. Besides, 

 if they entertain a guest of distinction they begin by 

 licking off with the tongue all the dirt on the pieces 

 destined for him. Whoever should refuse to accept 

 what was offered him after this extraordinary act of 

 courtesy in cleaning it, would be regarded as an im- 

 polite, ill-bred person/' 



"Bah! the dirty things !" cried Emile. "I will 

 take good care never to be one of tl/ .V guests. " 



"And the tattooed hunters cooked in that way?" 

 Jules inquired. 



"For want of proper utensils they apparently 

 employed similar means. But let us finish our in- 

 spection of the inside of the aquatic hut. 



"The highest point in the roof is pierced for the 

 passage of smoke from the fireplace situated in the 

 center of the hut, between two stones on a bed of 

 beaten earth, which prevents the floor, made of 

 branches, from catching fire. On the walls are hung 

 the hardwood tomahawk, flint hatchets, bone arrows, 

 and the net of bark thongs, still damp from fishing 

 in the lake and ornamented on the edges with round 

 pierced stones. On the branching antlers of a stag 

 the clothes are hung, consisting of leopards' and 

 wolves' skins with the hair on. In the most shel- 

 tered corner rush mats and furs carpet the floor for 

 the night's rest. Finally, in front of the door the 



