68 CAPTAIN CART WRIGHT'S 



nous crystalizations. The lamps were formed of 

 stone, wliicli they contrive to hollow out properly 

 for this purpose; and the wicks, (for each had 

 several laid in. a row on the edge of the lamp) 

 were bits of a particular kind of moss, well dried. 

 Having first poured some oil into the lamp, they 

 then spit a number of small pieces of fat upon a 

 stick, and place them horizontally, at such a dis- 

 tance behind the wicks, that their heat melts the 

 fat, equal to the consumjDtion of oil. The entrance 

 was two feet square, and the upper part of it re- 

 clined outwards, making a considerable angle, and 

 was near the central part of the front of the apart- 

 ment. The door was a block of thick ice, which 

 they laid upon the inside of that aperture. From 

 the door was a descent of four steps into a porch, 

 which was sixteen feet long, four feet wide at the 

 bottom next the house, but narrowed towards the 

 outer end till it was but just sufficient for them 

 to enter at, where it was quite open. It was built 

 of large, oblong blocks of snow laid one upon an- 

 other, and meeting at the top, which was ten feet 

 high. By the entrance of the house projecting for- 

 ward into the porch, and the steps before it, any 

 person might walk in without stooping. 



Adjoining to the entrance of the porch was a 

 detached kitchen, formed with blocks of snow, 

 and shaped like a glass-house; but not more 

 than ten feet high, and five in diameter. A 

 stick was laid across it to hang the pot upon, 

 which was boiled by the blaze of a few small 

 sticks. 



