THE ESKIMOS. 135 
eyes were filled with hot salt. I speak from expe- 
rience. 
In order to guard against the occurrence of snow-blind- 
ness, the Eskimos wear a very ingenious contrivance, 
in the form of wooden goggles. These are neatly 
earved so as to fit over the nose, and close in to the 
sockets of the eyes. Instead of colored glasses, which 
the Eskimos have no means of getting, these goggles are 
made with narrow horizontal slits, just wide enough to 
allow the wearer to see through. Thus the excess of light 
is excluded, while the sight is not entirely obstructed. 
Like many people in southern Canada, the native of 
the frozen zone possesses a Summer and winter residence, 
and occupies each in turn as regularly as the seasons 
change. His winter dwelling is built of snow; his sum- 
mer lodge is made of oil-tanned seal or deer-skins, neatly 
sewn together, and supported by poles, if such can be 
procured, or pieces of drift-wood spliced together. A 
flap is left for the door, but there is no opening at the 
top, as in the Indian wigwam or tepee, for, having no 
fire, they have no need of a chimney. 
The atmosphere of these tents or “topicks,’ as they 
are called, is usually very sickening to one not accus- 
tomed to them, for the skins of which they are made are 
dressed in their natural oil in order to make them 
water-proof, which has the effect of making them rank 
and odorous to a degree.. 
Topicks vary in size, according to the wealth or re- 
quirements of the occupants. Sometimes they are 
scarcely large enough to allow two or three little people 
to huddle into them, while others are quite commodious, 
capable of seating twenty persons. The commonest form 
