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1884.] The Northernmost Inhabitants of the Earth. 867 
The interior arrangement of these dwellings is exceedingly sim- 
ple. Opposite the door we find a low platform made of snow and 
covered with furs, which is used as a sleeping place. In case the 
hut is made of stone this platform is composed of the same mate- 
rial, Most important among the household utensils is the flat 
stone lamp which furnishes both light and heat. According to 
the size of the dwelling, one or two of these lamps are used. 
They are placed upon blocks of either snow or stone imme- 
diately by the side of the platform. Above the lamp is sus- 
pended, with cords of raw hide, an oblong stone cooking pot. 
Small racks, made of bone, serve for drying garments. 
aes 
Fic. 3.—Cooking pot of the same material. 
The wick of the lamp consists either of fibers of moss or of 
the dried catkins of the arctic willow ; likewise are these latter 
used as tinder, and are ignited by the sparks produced by the 
friction of a piece of pyrite and quartz. We also find in use the 
Well known fire drill, the stem of which is placed between an 
ivory mouth-piece and a fragment of soft wood. By means of 
the bow the drill is set in rapid niotion, which is continued until 
the dry wood takes fire. 
: In addition to those above enumerated there are but few uten- 
Ss: flat dishes made of water-proof sealskin; a few knives, simi- 
lar to our chopping-knives, and exclusively used by the women; 
Primitive implements for sewing, and finally, several scrapers 
bone, ivory or stone to soften the skins, but the main work in 
this respect is done with the teeth. 
VOL, XviIt,—no, 1x, 
