OF THE POLAR SEA. 145 



their modes of worship, he gave me an in- 

 vitation to be present. The ceremony took 

 place in a sweating-house, or as it may be 

 designated from its more important use, a 

 temple, which was erected for the occasion 

 by the worshipper's two wives. It was 

 framed of arched willows, interlaced so as 

 to form a vault capable of containing ten 

 or twelve men, ranged closely side by side, 

 and high enough to admit of their sitting 

 erect. It was very similar in shape to an 

 oven or the kraal of a Hottentot, and was 

 closely covered with moose skins, except at 

 the east end, which was left open for a 

 door. Near the centre of the building there 

 was a hole in the ground, which contained 

 ten or twelve red-hot stones, having a few 

 leaves of the taccohaymenan, sl species of 

 prmius, strewed around them. When the 

 women had completed the preparations, the 

 hunter made his appearance, perfectly naked, 

 carrying in his hand an image of Kepoo- 

 chikawn, rudely carved, and about two feet 

 long. He placed his god at the upper end 

 of the sweating-house, with his face towards 



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