ESQUIMAUX STONE LAMP AND FIRE. 



175 



facing Tookoolito, seated near a lamp, and herself covered with 

 skins, she having been taken sick on the last occasion of vis- 

 iting our ship. Mittens, boots, stockings, and articles of clothing, 

 all in a wet state, were on the " dry net" that always hangs over 

 the lamp, but on this occasion the lamp was not performing its 

 usual heat-giving functions. Owing to the backwardness of the 

 cold season in freezing up the bay, the condition of the natives 

 from want of blubber and food was in an alarming state. Many 

 of them could have no friendly lamp to give light and heat. 



The Esquimaux lamp is the " all in all" to these people. By it 

 their igloo is lighted and kept warm ; by it they melt ice or snow 

 for their drink ; and by it they dry their clothing, mittens, boots, 

 stockings, etc. Without the lamp, Esquimaux could not live — 

 not so much because of its warmth or use for cooking, but be- 

 cause it enables them to dry their skin clothing, melt ice for drink, 

 and gives them light during the long arctic night of winter. 



KOOD-HN AND IK-KU-MEK, 



the Stone Lamp and Fire of the Esquimaux. 



When I called upon Tookoolito the lamp was without oil, and 

 could not give either sufficient light, heat, or drying power, hence 

 the melancholy aspect of her otherwise happy abode. Ebierbing, 

 however, intended very soon to make a sealing excursion, and ob- 

 tain blubber at any risk. 



When obliged, Esquimaux do not hesitate in undergoing the 

 greatest privations to get food for their families. They will watch 

 over a seal-hole for one hour or fifty, if need be, in the coldest 

 weather, waiting for the seal to come up and breathe. Kudlago 

 in this manner caught the first seeds of the complaint which car- 

 ried him off. His family were starving ; and after bearing the 

 pain of seeing them suffer for a few days, he could endure it no 



