254 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 



for the group of families living iu the structure. Ko fires were ever lit 

 in the living rooms. The sectional plan of one of these houses is shown 

 in figure 82, and a ground plan in figure 83. 



On Sledge island the winter village was perched on a steep slope, 

 facing the sea, and well above the water. The houses were set one 



Fia. 82— Section of house at Gape iS'oine. 



back of the other on the slope of the rocky talus that extends up to 

 the Lop of the high bluff; they were built on the plan of those at Cape 

 Nome, above described, except that the storeroom usually opened on a 

 level with the ground in front, instead of through the roof. In July, 

 1881, this village was almost deserted, as the people were on the adja- 

 cent mainland engaged in salmon fishing. 



In all the last-named villages elevated frameworks for boats and 

 sledges were numerous; iu those where the floors were made of hewed 



Fig. 83— Ground plan of bouse at Cape Nome. 



planks, long use had worn them smooth and the inmates were careful 

 to keep them clean, sweeping them as often as necessary with a little 

 wisp of twigs. 



King island, in Bering strait, is a rugged mass of granite rising 

 sheer from the water for hundreds of feet on three sides, and on the 



