NORTHERN OCEAN 75 



equal distances from each other, and in such order, that their 1770. 

 lower ends form a complete circle, which gives boundaries to 

 the tent on all sides : the tent cloth is then fastened to a 

 light pole, which is always raised up and put round the poles 

 from the weather side, so that the two edges that lap over 

 and form the door are always to the leeward. It must be 

 understood that this method is only in use when the Indians 

 are moving from place to place every day ; for when they 

 intend to continue any time in one place, they always make 

 the door of their tent to face the south. 



The tent cloth is usually of thin Moose leather, dressed and 

 made by the Indians, and in shape it nearly resembles a fan- 

 mount inverted ; so that when the largest curve incloses the 

 bottom of the poles, the smaller one is always sufficient to 

 cover the top ; except a hole, which is designedly left open 

 to serve the double purpose of chimney and window. 



The fire is always made on the ground in the center, and 

 the remainder of the floor, or bottom of the tent, is covered all 

 over with small branches of the pine tree, [20] which serve 

 both for seats and beds. A quantity of pine tops and branches 

 are laid round the bottom of the poles on the outside, over 

 which the eves of the tent is staked down ; a quantity of snow 

 is then packed over all, which excludes great part of the 

 external air, and contributes greatly to the warmth within. 

 The tent here described is such as is made use of by the 

 Southern Indians, and the same with which I was furnished 

 at the Factory ; for that made use of by the Northern Indians 

 is made of different materials, and is of a quite different shape, 

 as shall be described hereafter. 



The situation of our tent at this time was truly pleasant,^ 

 particularly for a spring residence ; being on a small elevated 

 point, which commanded an extensive prospect over a large 



p He appears to have been camped at the rapid at the head or western end 

 of Shethnanei Lake, which, according to the best information at present avail- 

 able, is about latitude 58^ 37' and longitude 4° west from Prince of Wales 

 Fort.] 



