TuraEu.] THE TENT. 227 



The number of skins necessary to form a tent varies with the size 

 required. Generally as many as ten to fifteen are used, and such a 

 tent will accommodate a good sized family. 



The hair is seldom removed from the skin, which is simjjly stretched 

 as it comes from the animal and freed from fat and fleshy particles. 

 The edges are trimmed and a sufticient number of skins are sewed to- 

 gether to form a length for one side of the tent. The length of the in- 

 dividual skins makes the height of the tent. A similar width is pre- 

 l)ared for the opposite side. The two pieces meet at the rear of the 

 structure and are there tied to the poles. A separate pieces forms the 

 door and may be thrown one side when a person enters or goes out. 

 The poles of the tent are arranged as follows: Two pairs of jxdesare 

 joined near the ends with stout thongs and erected with the lower ends 

 spread to the proper width, forming the ends of the tent, on which the 

 ridgeijole is laid. A single pole is now placed near each end of the 

 ridgepole, resting on the upright pairs, to prevent lateral motion. 

 Two more such braces are placed on each side and spread s<» as to give 

 a somewhat rounded end to the tent. Near the middle of the ridge- 

 j)ole is a pair of shorter poles leaning against it to prevent the weight 

 of the sides from bending the ridgepole. It will be seen that eleven 

 poles are necessary to support a long tent, as the skins are very heavy. 

 The skins and jjoles can be transported when the umiak is able to 

 carry them. 



In case of continued rains the skins are placec. so as nearly to meet 

 over the ridge and additional skins cover the space left between the 

 edges. When the tent is to be taken down the two widths are folded 

 over, each by itself, and then rolled into a compact bundle by begin- 

 ning at each end and folding toward the center, leaving sufficient space 

 betweeu the rolls for a person to get his head and shoulders in. Two 

 persons, one for each roll, now assist the cai'rier, who kneels, bows Lis 

 head, and idaces the load on his head and shoulders. The two assist 

 him to rise and the heavy load is taken to the umiak and placed in the 

 bottom for ballast. The shorter poles are first laid in on the ribs of 

 the boat to keep the skins from the water should any seep through the 

 seams. The second bundle of tenting is laid on the first. 



The tent of skins is the usual shelter during the season from the first 

 rain until a sufficient fall of snow occurs in the early winter from which 

 to construct an iglu gheak. 



The interior of the skin tent is necessarily quite roomy on account 

 of the number of occupants. The farther end often has a stick of 

 timber laid across the floor, and behind this is the bedding for the owner, 

 his wives, and children. A man who is able to own a tent of this char- 

 acter is also wealthy enough to have two or more wives. Along the 

 remainder ot the sides within lie the other occupants, either in groups 

 or singly, depending on the degree of relationship existing between 



