ESKIMOS 143 



cuts are made at the ends and bottom of the block, after which 

 the knife is thrust down several times along the rear line and 

 the block is wedged off. One man usually cuts blocks, while 

 another builds the house. A circle the size of the intended 

 house is traced on the surface of the snow, and the first circle 

 of blocks arranged around it. When this is completed, the first 

 few blocks are cut down diagonally, so that the next layer of 

 blocks will take a spiral form and continue to wind in a decreas- 

 ing curve until the dome is closed by an irregular key-block. 

 This manner of building is superior to a succession of lessening 

 circles, as each block is so cut as to be held by the one placed 

 immediately before, and thus one man only is needed at the 

 work, whereas, if the circular method were used, the different 

 blocks of the circle would require to be held in place until the 

 circle was complete. The finished house is a snow-dome of about 

 two-thirds the height of the diameter of the base, with the arch 

 flattened towards the summit. When all the blocks are in place, 

 the cracks between them are chinked with loose snow, generally 

 by the women. A line of blocks is then placed across the centre 

 of the floor-space opposite to where the door will be, with other 

 blocks at right angles to thus reduce the floor-space to a rectangle 

 extending from the door to the centre of the iglo. On the far 

 side of these walls, blocks of snow are thrown, and cut to form a 

 smooth platform about eighteen inches higher than the original 

 floor ; this forms the bed of the family, while the side platforms 

 hold the camp and cooking utensils. A door is now cut" in the 

 wall opposite the bed ; it is about thirty inches high and eighteen 

 inches wide, and passes into a tunnel porch several feet long 

 and somewhat larger than the door, built later, and serves 

 as a shelter for the dogs. When the house is permanent, the 

 porch is built with two or more lobes with doors at each contrac- 

 tion. 



While the men are finishing the porch and other work 

 outside, the women take the bedding and household goods from 



