138 MACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANAD: 
moon shaped, and formed neatly of some description of 
soft rock. The rounding side of the vessel is made 
much deeper than the other, which shoals up gradually 
to the edge. The wick of the lamp consists of dried 
decomposed moss, pressed and formed by the fingers 
into a narrow ridge across the shallow or straight edge 
of the dish. In this position it absorbs the seal oil 
which is placed in the vessel, and when lit, burns with 
a clear bright flame, free from smoke. The lamp is 
then made self-feeding by suspending a lump of seal 
blubber above it, at a height varying according to the 
amount of light and consequent supply of oil required. 
This melts with the heat of the flame and drips into 
the vessel of the lamp. One lump keeps up the supply 
for a considerable length of time, the intensity of light 
being increased or dimished at will by lowering or 
- raising the lump of blubber suspended above the flame. 
A lamp is usually placed at either side of the en- 
trance in the upper apartment. Both are kept burning 
brightly the greater part of the long cold, dark days of 
winter, but during the hours of sleep they are “turned 
down,” that is, the lumps of blubber are raised; or 
sometimes one lamp is extinguished and the other made 
to burn dimly. These lamps, though chiefly designed 
to furnish light, also contribute a considerable amount 
of heat to the igloes. It is often necessary to turn 
them down, to prevent the snow walls from being 
melted by the heat, though the temperature outside may 
be 40 or 50 degrees below zero. 
Towards spring the snow-houses become very damp, 
and to prevent the roofs from being melted away fresh 
snow has to be added to the outside. Before they are 
