136 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



thirty-two poles or 'shaistoy,' as we afterwards came to 

 call them. They were about twenty feet long, and at 

 their base they formed a circle of which the diameter 

 was about fifteen feet. They were brought up to a 

 point and secured with a thong. 



Round the outside was wound a covering of birch 

 bark. This covering is made in three layers, sewed 

 together with sinew, so that the seams overlap. The 

 strips were about two feet six inches in width, and were 

 in four lengths — two shorter for the lower part, so as 

 to leave an opening for the door, and two longer to be 

 carried round higher up to the apex. A hole was left 

 at the top for the exit of smoke ; while the door-way 

 was closed in by a flap of reindeer skin. 



The furnishing of the inside was not elaborate. In 

 the middle, on the ground, was the fire, formed of drift- 

 wood. Above this ran a pair of wooden bars, supported 

 on perpendicular poles, carrying the long wooden hooks 

 to which hung the big cooking pot called 'yud,' the 

 kettle, and a smaller metal pan for the simmering of 

 goose-fat. Away from the fire hung by three claws a 

 tin bowl containing- water for hand and face washing". 

 You had no soap, but you tipped up the bowl and rubbed 

 your face with water. You might do this tipping for 

 yourself or not as you pleased. Ordinarily it was an 

 act of the women's ministration, as it is in all the 

 Russian cottages. 



They had two very low wooden tables, a flour barrel, 



