224 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



then cut out a block of a size convenient to be lifted. This is usually 

 rejected as it may be irregular or broken. Additional blocks, in size 

 from 8 to 10 inches thick, 2 feet wide, and slightly more in length are 

 cut by a motion much resembling the act of sawing, cutting the depth 

 of the blade. The knife then cuts the bottom off squarely and the 

 block is lifted out, the builder standing wliere the first blocks were cut 

 from. The blocks are arranged on the bank of snow around the pit in 

 which the man stands. The first block irsually is somewhat triangular 



iort (Jhimo. 



in shape for a purpose hereafter mentioned. The second block is cut 

 out and placed near the first, the end clipjjed with the knife to allow 

 the first joint to be close together. A third block is cut and placed by 

 the end of the second. It will now be seen that the line of blocks is not 

 straight, but curved concavely within. Additional blocks are cut and 

 placed end to end with each other until the first one laid is reached- 

 Here a longer block is cut to lay upon tlie inclined side of the triangu- 

 lar-shaped block first used and so placed as to "break "the joints, and 

 thus render the structure more stable. Additional blocks are placed 

 on the first row, and as the operation proceeds it will be seen that the 

 blocks lie in a spiral form, gradually drawing in as the structure rises, 

 forming a dome-shaped wall of snow. The key block at the top is 

 carefully cut to fit the aperture and inserted from the outside by the 

 assistance of another person. All the joints are carefully stopped up 

 with spawls of snow or with snow crushed between the hands and 

 forced within the crevices. 

 The floor of the snow house is the bed of snow from which the budd- 



