The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-25
Life in an EsQuimaux Hut.
From DR.. Haynes Book !

| "0"t' oHu sIoplHS OuCK IHlO the nlII' Iney
were now covered with snow, and until af-
ter entering one of them, could not discov
er OF what material they were made. To
get inside was obliged to crawl on my
hands and knees through q covered pas age
about twelve feet long. Kalutunab, upon
hearing my footsteps, came out to welcome
me, which he did by patting me on the back
and grinning in my face. Preceding me
with smoking torch, which was a piece
of burning moss saturated with fat, he ad.
vanced through the low narrow passage
trnmpling over several snarling dogs and
haf-grown puppies. After making two or
three turns observed at last a bright light
streaming down through hole, into which
my guide elevated his body; and then NOV.
ing to one side, he made room for his guest.
, I found myself in den in which could not
stand upright, but which was crowded with
human beings Of both sexes, and Of all ages
and sizes. Twas received with hilarious
shout which assured me Of welcome. Like
a flock Of sheep crowdng into pen, they
packed themselves into the corners to make
room for me on the only seat which could
discover. had come to crafty my own
curiosity, but theirs was even more rapr.
cious than mine, and must be first satisfied.
Everything had on and about me, under.
went the closest examination.
! My long beard greatly excited their inter.
/, est and OdmiratioD. Being themselves with.
out this hirsute appendage, or at most hav
ing few stiff hairs upon the upper lip and
the point OF the chin, could readily oppreci
ate their curiosity. They touched it and
stroked it, patting me all the while on the
back, and hanging on to my arms, legs and
shoulders. | was very Peter Farley
among crowd of overgrown Children
They were greatly puzzled over my woolen
clothing, and could not comprehend Of wha,
kind of skins it was made. The nearest
, that could approach description was that
e it grew on the animal looking like an "Uk-
X alex" (hare). That it was not skin could
/. not make them understand. Hans, being
once importuned at the ship on the same
D subject, told some of them, rather pettishly,
that it was "man skim" and this | found
d seemed to be the general impression. My
:. pockets did not escape them; and my pipe
which one OF the boys drew out, occasioned
d much amusement, as it passed around from
8 hand to hand, ond from mouth to mouth
n Kautunah drew my knife from its sheath,
s pressed it to his heart, and then with rogue
sh leer stuck it in his boot. I shook my
!. head, and with laugh, he returned it to its
e place. 1t was prize he greatly coveted.
He had not yet heard OF the ten command.
J.. ments, end he could not resist the desire to
@ possess it. He drew it out half a dozen
times, cxcaiming beseechingly, as he hug.
"a ged it, "Me give -" There was an air
of innocent simplicity about the fellow which
e pleased me; and had nearly paid for my
,t admiration with my knife. Fortunately
At however, did not wholly forget that charity
" begins at home. My pistol they handled
!. with great soIemnty; with the marvellous
effect CT our firearms they had already
w been familiur;zed; for as we entered the har
IS Dor Bonsall had, with his gun, dropped {
burgomaster gull among them.
" During the incidents just detailed, foun,
leisure to examine the hut. The whole in
n. terror was about ten feet in diameter an,
I five and a half feet high. The walls were
lv made Of stone, moss, and the bones o. whale
,e narwhaI, and other animals. They wer
not arched, but drawn in gradually from tn
Q. foundation, and capped by long slabs G
,e slate stone, stretching from side TO side.-
"a The floor was covered with thin fl
ds stones. Half of this floor at the back part {
#, the hut was elevated q foot. This elevutio
TO was called "breck;" and it served both a
II bed end seat. being covered with dry grass
- over which were spread bear and dog skins
in At the corners in front were similar eleva
n tions, under layer OF which, lay litter o
10. pups, with their mother, and under the 9th
IN er was slowed joint OF meat. The from
n. of the hut was square, and through it, abov
id the passage way, opened window a squar
sheet of dried intestnes, sewed together, ad
n- mitted the light. The hole of entrance il
I the floor was close to the trent wall, an
ty was covered with piece Of seal skin. TIL
walls were lined with seal skins stretche
or to dry. In the cracks between the stone
er were thrust whip stocks, bones and pegs, o.
to which hung coils of harpoon lines. o
le one side of me, at the edge of the "breck,
It. sat an old woman, and on the other side 9
IS young one. each busily engaged in attendn
h. to q smoky, greasy lamp. A third woma
sat in a corner, similarly occupied. Th
e. lamps were made Of soap stone, and in shap
1e much resembled clam shell, being abor
a eight inches in diameter. The cavity wa
9. filled with oil, and on the straight edge
ct flame was burning quite brilliantly. Th
ID wick which supplied fuel to the flames wa
It., moss.
The only business Of the women SCENE
fe to be to prevent the lamps from smoking
ne and to keep them supplied with blubbel
in large pieces Of which were placed in them
he the heat OF the fame frying out the OIL
ii. About three inches above the flame, hung
lie suspended from the ceiling, an oblon
ct square pot of the same material aS the lamE
of in which something was slowly simmerinl