ANCIENT SETTLEMENT ON TEEWORTHA MAESH. 61 



anotlier similar screen of granite, standing out 2-ft. 9-in. from 

 the wall and dividing off a portion of the hall that is 12-ft. 9-in. 

 long. Not only so, but in the midst of the hall is an upright 

 slab of granite, 2-ft. 3-in. high, with a paved hearth to the west 

 of it which, as well as this slab, bears tokens of fire. This, then, 

 was the fire-hearth andj fire-back for the dwellers in the upper 

 compartment of the hall. Those in the lower had also their 

 hearth, but it was on the unpaved floor, and it was without a 

 fire-back. The soil was burnt brick-red where it had stood. 

 Apparently two families had occupied this hall, their sleeping 

 portions separated by a stone screen, and each had its own fire. 

 This is very much the arrangement of an Esquimo house at the 

 present day. The south wall is entirely composed of upright 

 slabs of granite. The wall on the opposite side is in a ruinous 

 condition, and never had a range of upright stones to constitute 

 or to line it. 



Passing through a narrow door, 2-ft. wide, partly of stones 

 set upright as jambs, and partly of stones in courses, we reach 

 a small chamber measuring 13-ft. 4-in. by 14-ft., the floor 

 of which was very hard, and made of granite sand, and pebble, 

 beaten down into a sort of compost with clay. In the north wall 

 of this apartment is a stone locker, the floor of which is 15 

 inches above the floor of the chamber. It is 18 inches high and 

 as many deep. It is covered by two slabs of granite, still in 

 place. In this easternmost chamber were found some fragments 

 of pottery. 



If we return to the dwelling-hall, where were the two flres, 

 we find a curious feature in the north wall, opposite the entrance. 

 This is a narrow opening, 1-ft. 6-in. in diameter, on the floor- 

 level. Of its original height there are no means of Judging^ 

 outside this is a granite screen, 3-ft. 3-in., at right angles to the 

 wall, and rising to the same height from the ground. This is to 

 the east of the opening. The similar screens outside the main 

 doorway are to the east and west of that door. The only possible 

 explanation of this hole with its screen is, that it was a draught- 

 opening in the wall, either for clearing the house of smoke, or 

 for helping the fires to draw. Possibly, when the fires would not 

 burn with the wind in one quarter, the opening in the wall was 



