BOAS] INTERIOR OF THE SNOW HOUSE. 545 



being put into tlie blubber and then kin(lle<l. Sometimes a long, 

 narrow vessel stands below tlie lamp, in wliich tlie oil that drops 

 from the edge is collected. 



In winter the blubber before being used is frozen, after whicli it is 

 thoroughly beaten. This bursts the vesicles of fat and the oil comes 

 out as soon as it is melted. The pieces of blubber are either put 

 into the lamp or placed over a jDiece of bone or wood, which hangs 

 from the framework a little behind the wick. In summer the oil 

 must be chewed out. It is a disgusting sight to see the women and 

 children sitting around a large vessel all chewing blubber and spit- 

 ting the oil into it. 



The frame of the fireplace consists of four poles stuck in the snow 

 in a square around the lamj) and four crossbars connecting the poles 

 at the top. From those which run from the front to the back the 

 kettle (ukusik) is suspended by two pairs of strings or thongs. It 

 is made of soapstone and has a hole in each corner for the string. 

 The kettle which is in use among the eastern tribes has a narrow 

 rim and a wide bottom (Fig. 494), while that of the western ones is 

 just the opposite. Parry, however, found one of this (li'srri|itinii in 

 River Clyde (I, p. 38G). When not in use it is shoved lunk Ijv ini'ans 

 of the strings. Since whalers began to visit the t-ountry a great 

 number of tin pots have been introduced, whicli are much more 

 serviceable, the process of cooking being quickened. 



Fig. 494. Ukusik or soai)stone kettle. 



On the top of the frame there is always a wood oi' bone hooj) with 

 a net of thongs stretched across it (inetang). It serves to dry cloth- 

 ing, particularly boots, stockings, and mittens, over the fire. In the 

 ])assage near the entrance to the hut there is frequently a small lamp 

 (adlirn), which is very effective for warming the cold air entering 

 through the door, and in the remotest corner in the back of the hut 

 there is sometimes another (kidlulirn). When all the lamps are 

 lighted' the house becomes warm and comfortable. 



Two small holes are frequently cut in the snowbank which forms 



the ledge, at about the middle of its height (see Fig. 492 a). They 



are closed with small snow blocks, each of which has a groove for a 



handle, and serve to store away anything that must be kept dry. 



ETH 35 



