THE ESKIMOS. 145 
making long overland journeys during the cold winter 
season. It consists of a long oval water-proof skin bag, 
lined with another of similar shape, made of soft but 
heavy winter deer-skins. The opening is not at the top, 
but near it, across one side, and is made with flap and 
buttons, so that it can be closed up as closely as desired. 
When the traveller is provided with this kind of a bed 
he does not trouble himself to make a snow lodge for the 
night, as without it he would have to do, but he simply 
crawls into his “shin-ig-bee,” buttons up the opening 
on the windward side, and goes to sleep, no matter what 
the weather or temperature may be. With the mercury 
at 40 below zero a man may in this way sleep warm and 
comfortable, without any fire, out upon the bleak frozen 
plains. 
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