512 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



A fire of dry pine logs split with an axe burned brightly 

 in the centre, supported by an iron plate about 3 feet 

 long and 2 feet wide, which was raised above the snow 

 and supported by pieces of wood laid parallel to one 

 another with their ends towards the entrance. 



On either side were fwo large heavy planks of wood, 

 6 or 8 inches wide, laid on the snow, and forming a 

 partial flooring, and between these and the walls on the 

 same sides of the choom were the couches of the family. 



These couches were formed first of a layer of straight 

 birch twigs lashed together with string, second with 

 a piece of grass matting, and lastly with reindeer 

 skins, while the pillows were either rolls of the same, or 

 malitzas and clothing, sloping upwards to the choom walls. 



The members of the family rest or sleep with their feet 

 to the fire, and when eating sit with the legs crossed 

 underneath like a Turk, or sit or lounge in different posi- 

 tions, which were generally concealed by their malitzas, 

 so that we could not judge of them always with accuracy. 



Above the fire a black iron pot was suspended from two 

 strong iron bars, which were fastened together near the 

 centre of the choom, opposite the entrance, to another 



