NELSON] VILLAGES ON ST LAWRENCE ISLAND 259 
eutter Corwin, and found the tundra surrounding the village sites cov- 
ered with corpses of the inhabitants; and dozens of them were still 
lying where they had died in the houses. 
In two villages at the southwestern end of the island were several 
summer houses of walrus skin, like those used at Plover bay, and 
various winter houses. These latter were framed with the jawbones 
and ribs of whales, which were planted in the ground, arching in at the 
top, forming an oval framework supporting the roof. The latter was 
made of similar bones with a little driftwood added, and the entire 
structure was covered with earth. Owing to the scarcity of material 
these houses were small and rude, but were very similar to buildings 
on the northern shore of Norton sound. j 
Close by the winter houses were elevated storehouses, upheld on four 
jawbones of whales planted upright in the ground. Most of the 
summer houses were framed of long strips of bone sawed lengthwise 
from whales’ jaws, with one end planted in the ground and the other 
bent over toward a stout jawbone of a whale standing upright in the 
ground, on one side of the oval area inclosed 
by the bone strips. Alternating with these 
strips were whale ribs, which also curved 
over toward the upright post. The frame 
pieces were planted very shallowly in the 
ground and were held steady by a rock 
weighing over 100 pounds, which was hung 
from the post-like jawbone which formed 
the main strength of the structure. An 
idea of these frames is given by the accom- 
panying sketch (figure 86), 
The interior of these summer houses 
measured about 20 feet in diameter, and were supplied with pologs 
made of reindeer skins sewed together and suspended from the roof, 
as is done on the Siberian coast. Exteriorly they were covered with 
walrus skins, which were lashed on and held in place by heavy weights 
of stone, driftwood, and bones, to prevent their being toppled over by 
the frequent gales. 
In a large village on the northern shore of the island, where all the 
inhabitants had perished, I found many similar summer houses, also 
some partly subterranean winter houses, differing from any others seen 
in this region. They were roofed with whalebones and driftwood, over 
which was the usual layer of earth. Over the outer end of the passage- 
way was a roofed, stockaded shelter made of driftwood, with one side 
or a part of one side left open, facing away from the direction of the 
prevailing wind. These shelters were from 5 to 8 feet across and about 
5 or 6 feet high. In the floor opened a square hole, giving access to the 
passageway, which was 2 or 3 feet high and from 50 to 75 feet in length 
and built wholly underground. In several instances they were curved 
¥Fic.86—House frame of whale ribs 
and jawbone. 
