74 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 
are vertical, those at the ends being between 3 and 4 feet high, while 
the sides run up to 6 or 7 feet at the ridgepole. The wall planks run 
up and down, and those of the roof from the ridge to the ends of the 
house, where there is a stout horizontal timber. In some houses the 
walls are made of paneled bulkheads from some wrecked whaler. 
In the front of the house over the trapdoor there are no planks for a 
space of about 2 feet. The lower part of this space is filled in with 
short transverse beams, so as to leave a square hole close to the ridge. 
This hole has a stout transverse beam at the top and bottom and serves 
as a window. When the house is occupied it is covered by a translucent 
membrane made of strips of seal entrail sewed together and stretched 
Fig. 11.—Interior of iglu, looking toward bench. 
over two arched sticks of light wood—whalebone was used in Dr. Simp- 
son’s time'—running diagonally across from corner to corner. The win- 
dow is closed with a wooden shutter when the house is shut up in winter, 
but both apertures are left open in summer. Just above the window, 
close to the ridgepole, is a little aperture for ventilation. Across the 
back of the room runs a platform or banquette, about 30 inches high in 
front and sloping back a little, which serves as a sleeping and lounging 
place. It is about 5 feet wide, and the front edge comes nearly under 
the ridgepole. It is made of thick planks running across the house, and 
supported at each end by a horizontal beam, the end of which projects 
somewhat beyond the bench and is supported by around post. At each 
side of the house stands a lamp, and over these are suspended racks in 
the shape of small ladders for drying clothing,’ ete. Deerskin blankets 
! Op. eit., p. 256. 
2 Compare Hooper, Tents, etc., p. 46: “Small lattice shelves * * * on which moccasins * * * 
are put todry.” Plover Bay. See also plate to face p.160 Parry’s Second Voyage. 
