CONCERNING LAPLAND. 
171 
SECTION VI. 
Of the Habitations of the Laplanders, and their domeftic Ar¬ 
rangements. 
ripHE huts of the maritime Laplanders, or thofe who dwell on 
the coart:, are called laume guatte, and are conftrudted with 
four ports bent together in an oval form, with a fmall door, and 
an opening in the roof to let out the fmoke. The roof of thele 
huts is formed with the bark of the birch-tree and fods of earth. 
To enter them it is necertary to ftoop almoft double, and within 
there is no poflibility of ftanding eredt, except perhaps in the 
centre, where the fire is made, which is exadtly under the before- 
mentioned fmoke hole. To retire even a ftep from the fire-place 
towards the fide of the hut is impofrtble, unlefs the body is quite 
bent dow T n. The family, however, are all feated round the fides, 
not minding the inconvenience of ftooping. The whole inner 
fpace is covered with boughs of trees. In the middle of the hut 
two piles of ftones are raifed in a rude manner at an equal dis¬ 
tance, parallel to each other, in a direction from the door to the 
oppofite end of the hut: this is for the fire-place ; at the four ex¬ 
treme corners of which are fixed as many ports: thefe ports ferve 
to fupport a frame, on which projecting pieces of wood are faft- 
Z 2 ened, 
