304 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. II., No. 31. 



THE IGLOO OF THE INNUIT.^ — YV. 



The interior of an igloo can be best under- 

 stood by reference to the diagrams. The one, 

 fig. 1, is a vertical section through the en- 

 trance ; and the other, fig. 2, a gronnd-plan. 

 Directly opposite the entrance is raised a plat- 

 form oi' solid snow, eighteen inches to two feet 



in height, which takes up about two-thirds of 

 the floor ; and on this are spread the reindeer- 

 skins which make the bed. Sometimes, if the 

 party be large and but one igloo built, there are 

 two of these snow-beds, separated by a narrow 

 aisle running from the entrance ; the persons 

 then sleeping at right angles to the positions 

 shown in the illustration. But such large igloos 

 are rare, unless of a permanent or 

 semi-permanent character. On an 

 extension of the platform forward, 

 on the woman's side, is placed the 

 stone lamp ; and here the food is 

 cooked, and the native skin clothes 

 are dried. The height of this plat- 

 form or snow-bed is nearly always 

 above the top of the low door ; for 

 the lunuits are instinctively masters 

 of the simple laws of pneumatics, 

 and trj' to keep the snow-bed as 

 high as possible to reach the upper 

 or warmer strata of air, especially to 

 keep higher than the cold air, which 

 can come in through the open door. 

 The height varies with the perma- 

 nency of the abode, the tempera- 

 ture, and with-' the tribe. If very 

 cold, or if intending to occupy the 

 igloo for some time, the beds are 

 made higher than they would be otherwise. 

 The Netschilluks and Kinnepetoo always make 

 much higher beds than the Iwilliks or Iglooliks. 

 There is also much variation in the flatness of 

 tlie dome ; those of the former tribes, especially 

 the Netschilluks, being very flat. This, with 

 their high beds, makes the space between them 



1 Continued fram No. 30. 



ver}' small : but in compensation their igloos 

 are the warmest and most comfortable in the 

 whole arctic region. These Netschilluks (in 

 and around King William's Land) nearl3- al- 

 ways have to jump out in front of their beds to 

 get standing-room to dress in, although all 

 Innuits are adepts in the art of putting on the 

 most intricate clothing in the smallest space 

 conceivable. 



The Kinnepetoo In- 

 nuits (around Chester- 

 field Inlet, especially 

 north of it) use few or 

 no lamps to warm their 

 snow-huts, and, despite 

 the high beds and low 

 roofs, they are cold, 

 cheerless, and uncom- 

 fortable beyond measure. 

 These Innuits are es- 

 sentially reindeer killers 

 and eaters, and laj- in an insignificant stock of 

 seal-oil to burn in their lamps. Walrus-kill- 

 ing is unknown to them. For light they use 

 a piece of rendered reindeer suet, laid beside 

 a piece of lighted moss, all being on a large flat 

 stone. The light of the stone lamp in all 

 igloos where it is used is sufficient for all pur- 

 poses of sewing and repairing. It is certainl}- 



equal to the light from three or four kerosene- 

 lamps, and, with tjre white snow-walls, gives 

 ample illumination. 



The Oo-quee-sik Salik Innuits (around the 

 mouth of Back's River) , who are salmon-eaters, 

 are another tribe that dispense with warming 

 the snow-houses for want of oil ; and this with 

 their very poor stock of clothing, they being 



