AuGtsT 24, 1883.] 



SCIENCE. 



217 



have a fair niiuiature representation of an ice- 

 village. 



Our canvas tent becoming very uucomforta- 

 We on account of the intense cold, which had 

 sunk to nearly — ;{0°F.,wc had a large ico- 

 igtoo constructed, into which we moved on the 

 1st of November. 1S78. and found it decid- 

 edlj' more habitable. 



If the village be small, they generally con- 

 struct an ice-house per day, ail working, either 

 catting out the slabs, hauling them to the igloo 

 site, putting them into shajjc, or chinking the 

 cracks with wet snow ; and this is continued 

 until all are housed. If a large village, they 

 divide into parties. 



Sometimes the Inmiits will retain their ice- 

 igloo, even after the snow has become fit 

 for building-])urposes, the seal-skin tent Ijeing 

 removed, and a new dome-shaped roof made 

 of snow-blocks. Such cases, however, are 

 extremely rare ; and unless this combination 

 igloo is covered in thoroughly with deep snow- 

 drifts, or with snow thrown u[)on it to a depth 

 of at least four to six feet, it will not compare 

 in comfort with that of snow alone. The rela- 

 tive conductivity of the two materials, snow 

 and ice, readil3- explains the reason. The ice 

 also condenses the moisture of the breath, and 



the steam from cooking, more readily upon its 

 cold, smooth surface ; and this becomes at last 

 an almost unbearable annoyance, — an annoy- 

 ance which can be comprehended without ex- 

 planation. The advantage of this igloo of ice 

 is in its straight upright walls, which give more 

 room than the slanting sides of the snow-house, 

 while it is also easier to build, the ice portion 

 being already constructed. We lived in such 

 an igloodining the winter of 1H7M-7'J ; but none 

 of the Inuuits around us retained theirs, and 

 often complained t)f the cold when in ours, and 

 referred it to its peculiar construction. I might 

 add, however, that our three bedrooms or bed- 

 igloos, which were attached to and communicated 

 with the main one of ice, were wholly of snow. 

 As the reader must have already surmised 

 from the hints given from time to time, the 

 true igloo is built of snow, those already de- 

 scribed being used but a very small portion of 

 the year. It is used on all their winter jour- 

 neys, even for a single night ; and, as contrary 

 to the prevailing belief, the Innuits travel the 

 most during this season, one can see that a 

 person sharing their life and travels would have 

 many opportunities, during two long winters 

 with them, to see igloo-building and igloo-life 

 in nearly all its aspects. 



> "N 



AN ICE-IGLOO WITH 3NOW CAPPINU. 



