HOUSEHOLD AETICLES. 



229 



The lamj) (po(iila), which is the only source of heat and light in the 

 suow house, is, roughly speaking, a large shallow bowl of soapstoue 



Fig. 49. Suapstonfi lamp, Roksoagmyut. 



filled with oil, whifh is burned by means of a wick of moss, arranged 

 round one edge of the bowl. 

 The material from which these lamps are made occurs in isolated 



Fio. .50. Soapatone lamp, Kok8oag:myTit. 



bowlders on the surface of the ground at various places in the region. 

 These bowlders are often of great size. 



The general form of these lamps, which will be best understood from 

 the figures (Figs. 49, 50, .51), is nearly always the same, the variations 

 being appai-ently due to the lack of material. The cavity for holding 

 the oil varies in capacity, according to the size of the lamp, from half a 

 pint to nearly three qnai'ts. It is, however, never filled to the brim, 



Fig. 51, Soapstone lamp, Koksoagmyut. 



for fear it should run over. The consumption of oil depends upon the 

 number of wicks lighted at once, and also on the character of the 

 wick. 



The wick in general use is prepared from a kind of moss, which 

 grows in large patches close to the ground, the stalks rising perpen- 



