ETHNOLOGY. 31 



hereafter ; one differs from the other only in this wise, that if death is 

 caused by certain means they go to the one, and if they die a natural 

 death they go to the other. 



The following is their idea of the future: "In the spirit-land all will 

 have it as good as or better than they had it on earth." Yet they desig- 

 nate two places where the soul goes after death, viz: "Some go up; 

 others far down into the earth ." But the lower place is considered pref- 

 erable. This is described as a beautiful land, with everlasting sunshine, 

 where the seal and reindeer abound in fabulous quantities, and food is 

 consequently abundant. To this latter place go only such as are killed 

 by other Eskimo, women who die in childbirth, such as drown in salt 

 water, and iclialers; they think, this being the better place, it is a sort of 

 recompense for the suffering they underwent on earth; all the rest go up. 



In this connection we will mention that the Cumberland Eskimo think 

 the aurora borealis is the spirits of dead Eskimo dancing and having a 

 good time generally. It has even considerable influence over them, and 

 they are well pleased to see a bright aurora. The Greenlanders, on the 

 other hand, say it is the spirits of dead Eskimo fighting. 



We have been told by some that those who hunt in thekyack and get 

 lost or driven upon the ice or some uninhabited island are supplied with 

 food from these regions ; that is, living game is thrown in their way for 

 them to capture, so they will not starve. This is firmly believed by them. 



Unlike the Greenlanders, the Cumberland Eskimo of the present day 

 have no permanent habitations. They may live at the same locality for 

 several winters in succession, but each year construct a new snow -house. 

 The Greenlander has a permanent sod or stone hut, and lives in tents 

 only while away hunting. The Cumberland natives live in snow-houses 

 from the time the snow gets firm enough to be fit to build with till it 

 melts, in June. They generally begin the construction of the snow-house, 

 or igloo, in the latter part of October. A place is chosen which is shel- 

 tered from the north, under the lee of a rock, if possible, and where there 

 is a considerable depth of snow. They begin by treading a circular 

 space about sixteen feet in diameter; on this they keep piling snow and 

 stamping it down as hard as possible till the whole mass is a raised 

 platform as hard as ice. They then cut out a square block from the mid- 

 dle, about eighteen inches deep. After this block is removed they have 

 a chance to cut others from around the sides, and this space is enlarged 

 till it becomes of the desired dimensions. The sleeping platform is left 

 as they finished treading it, no blocks being cut from, this portion; it 



