EYE-PKOTECTORS. 



223 



is about half an inch thick, forming a flat surface. The front is perpen- 

 dicular and blackened with soot or guiiiwwder mixed with oil and ap- 

 plied to darken the front surface to absorb the light of the sun's rays. 

 Above this is a ledge of half an inch projecting over the narrow longr 

 tndinal slit through which tlio wearer may look. This projection is 

 sometimes not blackened on the underside, and where wood is scarce it 

 is left oft' altogether. Within, on the side next to the eyes, it is usually 



. 47. Snow-goggles— rear. 



gouged ont to allow the eyelashes free movement. A piece of sealskin 

 is affixed at each end and either tied in a knot over the head to hold 

 the wood in position, or else a wider strip of skin is slit and one portion 

 worn on the top of the head while the other fits the back of the head 

 to i)revent the goggles from lalling ott' when the wearer stoops down. 



DWELLINGS. 



The winter dwellings of the Eskimo of Hudson strait consist of the 

 usual form of snow house. In this connection I may as well state that 

 the pojiular impression that the snow house described by Arctic travel- 

 ers is the only thing to be called an iglu is quite erroneous. The word 

 "iglu"is as fully generic in the Eskimo language as the word''house" 

 is in the English language. The correct term, as applied by the Eskimo, 

 to the snow house used as a dwelling is " ig In ge ak " (Fig. 48.) 



The first requisite for a snow house is snow. It must be of sufficient 

 depth and i)ossess certain well-defined qualities. The snow may fall, 

 but until it has acquired sufficient depth for the size of blocks required 

 and firmness enough for strength to withstand the superposed weight of 

 the structure it is useless. An instrument termed siiowkiiife (puiiiik), 

 shaped like a short sword, is used for the purpose of cutting the blocks. 

 The Eskimo seeks a place where the insertion of the knife into the bed 

 of snow will x)rove that the snow is in the iiroper condition. He must 



