866 The Northernmost Inhabitants of the Earth. [September 
Their dwellings are arched huts of either snow or stone, or 
they are leather tents, During the cold season, as a rule, the 
structures of snow are inhabited, though occasionally those of 
stone ; tents, however, are resorted to exclusively during the 
summer, 
The invention of the dome, which was probably made inde- 
pendently in three different zones of our planet, may be consid- 
ered of even greater credit to the Eskimo than the invention of 
the sledge. The Itanese are experts in the architecture of these 
semispherical or hive-shaped snow-huts, Their size depends on 
the number of inhabitants. About twelve feet may be regarded 
as the average diameter of the floor, the height being approxi- 
mately one-half of this. Two feet to two and a-half is the length 
of the blocks of snow used in their construction ; their height 's 
from ten to twelve inches; their thickness from eight to ten 
inches. Longitudinally the section presents three different forms. 
Prominent amongst these is a trapezia with two sides slightly 
diverging ; next an elongated oblong, and finally a trapez. The 
greatest angle of this last rarely exceeds 109°, and the smallest 
is not less than 70°. ; ‘ ) 
To prepare these blocks a sword-shaped snow-knile 1s m 
made either of wood, of the lower jaw of the narwhal, or 0! 3 
walrus tusk. 
- Fic. 1.—Snow knife, one-fifth nat. size, made of the wood of Dr. iil 
Advance, collected by Dr. I. I. Hayes. BET 
Usually two persons are employed in the cosi 
snow hut. While one is cutting the blocks the other e 
together. The row forming the foundation consists pv higher 
lar pieces standing upright and forming a circle. ounced 
layers, however, form a spiral which is particularly r hs 
on'the apex of the dome. Each successive convoluti y 
greater angle of inclination than the preceding One. + of this 
door is cut out in the form of a gothic arch. In "a huts af 
a short arched gang-way. Occasionally several am 
connected. 
