Food 109 



sometimes used in this way, but more usually a torch of matted moss roots 

 dipped in blubber. During a migration, of course, every lamp is extinguished, 

 so the natives have to resort to pyrites on such occasions. 



In spring and summer the natives carry a little dry grass to catch the glow 

 of their tinder instead of an oily stick. On old camp-sites fragments of charred 

 wood may always be found which will serve the same purpose. For this reason 

 the Eskimos are careful to cover the embers of their open fires with flat stones 

 which convert some of the unburnt wood to charcoal. In blowing a fire they 

 never purse the lips as we do, but curl the tongue along the lower palate so as 

 to make a concave channel, thus giving the breath its direction.' 



'In my preliminary draft of the report I had proposed to follow up this chapter on food with another 

 on clothing. That idea has now been abandoned, for a detailed account of the styles a,nd patterns of the 

 garments worn by the Copper Eskimos, their methods of sewing and of dressing skins, will require a 

 special monograph, and a cursory sketch of the subject seemed unnecessary here. The Copper Eskimos 

 wear only fur clothing, most of their garments being made of caribou fur. The only changes caused 

 by the seasons are the substitution of seal-skin for caribou-skjn in certain portions of the footr-gear, and 

 the wearing of water-boots and of older and lighter clothing during the summer months. There are 

 certain differences in the garments worn by the two sexes, but only of a minor character. 



