BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMS11IAN 



4 7 



walls. The house of the Tlingit, as represented by Shotridge, 1 is 

 very much like the Tsirnshian house, except in minor points. The 

 posts are still farther apart than in the Tsirnshian house. This 

 arrangement necessitates that provision be made for a ridge beam. 

 The heavy beams B rest on the uprights U, which are seldom carved. 

 On top of the beams three or four supports S are laid, on which rests 

 the ridge beam R. The latter consists of two parts, leaving a space 

 in the middle for the smoke hole. Sometimes, but not regularly, two 

 add itional beams R' rest on these supports. In a few cases the central 

 ridge beam is then supported by a smaller support S'. The lower end 



Fig. 2. Plan nl house. 



of the roof is either arranged as shown in figures 1 and 2 or as indi- 

 cated in figure 3. In the former case the roof supports are separate 

 from the walls; beams V are laid on the uprights C, and the roof 

 boards rest on the beams R, B, and V. In the latter case (fig. 3) the 

 corner post P is connected with the rear comer post by a square beam 

 which supports the lower ends of the roof boards. The walls of the old 

 houses consist of horizontal planks of great width. The thick base 

 planks of the front, rear, and sides (figs. 2, 3) are grooved, and the 



1 Shotridge, pp. 86 it aeq. 



