JAMESON’S LAND :—HABITATIONS. 20*J 
it was roofed with slabs of stone and sods. This 
kind of hut being deeply sunk in the earth, and 
being accessible only by a subterranean passage; 
is generally considered as formed altogether un¬ 
der ground. As, indeed, it rises very little above 
the surface, and as the roof, when entire, is ge¬ 
nerally covered with sods, and clothed with moss 
or grass, it partakes so much of the appearance 
of the rest of the ground, that it can scarcely he 
distinguished from it. I was much struck by its 
admirable adaptation to the nature of the climate 
and the circumstances of the inhabitants. The 
uncivilized Esquimaux, using no fires in these 
habitations, but only lamps, which serve both for 
light and for warming their victuals, require, in the 
severities of winter, to economise, with the great¬ 
est care, such artificial warmth as they are able to 
produce in their huts. For this purpose, an un¬ 
der-ground dwelling, defended from the penetra¬ 
tion of the frost by a roof of moss and earth, with 
an additional coating of a bed of snow, and pre¬ 
served from the entrance of the piercing wind, by 
a long subterranean tunnel, without the possibi¬ 
lity of being annoyed by any draught of air, but 
what is voluntarily admitted,—forms one of the 
best contrivances which, considering the limited 
resources, and the unenlightened state of these 
people, could possibly have been adopted. The 
O’ 
