544 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. 



grade, so that the latter are miich more comfortable. To avoid the 

 dropping the natives ajjply a cold piece of snow to the roof before the 

 drop falls down, which at once freezes to it, the roof acquiring by 

 this repeated process a stalactitic appearance. The eastern tribes use 

 the lining in their permanent houses without any exception. The 

 -^Yestern and southern tribes, who leave the walls bare, heap a thick 

 layer of loose snow over the whole building, almost covering it 

 lip, the window and the ventilating hole alone excepted. For this 

 purpose snow shovels are used. 



The edge of the bed is formed by a long pole. The surface of the 

 snowbank which forms the foundation for the bed is covered with 

 pieces of wood, oars, paddles, tent poles, &c. These -are covered 

 with a thick layer of shrubs, particularly Andromeda tetragona. 

 Over these numerous heavy deerskins are spread, and thus a very 

 comfortable bed is made. 



According to Parry the arrangement in Iglulik is as follows {II, 

 ji. 501): 



The beds are arranged by fii-st covering the snow with a (luantity of small stones, 

 over which are laid theu- paddles, tent poles, and some blades of whnlclioiie: 

 above these they place a number of little pieces of network madi' of thin ^lips of 

 whalebone, and lastly a quantity of twigs of birch and of the Andnmi, J,i I, lnKjiuia. 



* * * The bu-ch, they say, had been procured from the soulliward liy way 

 of Nuvuk. * * * There deerskins, which are very numerous, can now be 

 spread without risk of theu- touching the snow. 



At night, when the Eskimo go to bed, they put their clothing, their 

 boots excepted, on the edge of the platform under the deerskins, thus 

 forming a pillow, and lie down with the head toward the entrance. 

 The blankets (qipiq) for their beds are made of heavy deerskins, 

 which are sewed together, one blanket serving for a whole family. 

 The edge of the blanket is trimmed with leather straps. 



On the side benches in front of the bed is the fireplace, which consists 

 of a stone lamp and a framework from which the pots are sus^iended 

 (see Fig. 493). The lamp (qudlirn), which is made of soapstone, is a 

 shallow vessel in the shape of a small segment of a circle. Sometimes 

 a small space is divided dff at the back f^r o-allii-rino- in the scraps of 

 blubber. The \\]ck ccjusisis df liair <if h'l-iiuiiliiirinii or of dried moss 

 rubbed down with a, little lihibliei- so as to lie inflammable. It is 

 always carried by the women in a small bag. The whole vessel is 

 filled with blubber as high as the wick, which is spi-ead along the 

 straii;hl side i if the Vessel. It rei|uires i-duslaiit attention to keep the 

 desired leii-tli 1 luni ill- \vit li. .lit sinnkiii- the length kindled being 

 ill acedi-daiice with tlie lieat nr lio-ht reiiiiired. The trimming of the 

 wick is done with a bit of bone, asbestus, or wood, with which the 

 burning moss is spread along the edge of the lamp and extinguished 

 or pressed down if the fire is not wanted or if it smokes. At the same 

 time this stick serves to light other lamps (or pipes), the burnt j^oint 



