The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-10-18
The Esquimaux Indians.

1t Is only within the present century
that the discovery has been made of
these singular and interesting people,
the inhabitants of the Arctic regions,
who appear to be in perfect state of ma
trre, and subject to all the privations
which can well be imagined. When we
contemplate the situation of their coun-
try, which presents nothing but an I'M
varied scene of ice and snow, that has
probably been accumulating since the
creation, it is almost incredible that be-
ings in the human form can exist in the
winter season, which is very long.
But the Esquimaux dwell in caves
underground, and do not seem seem sem
sible of their desolate existence. In the
summer season they have no regular
place, but with their families, sledges,
and dogs (Which are the only beasts of
draught they make use Off pursue one
unlimited course of hunting and fishing
They are generally obliged to eat their
food, consisting of seal and reindeer, in
its raw state. Their canoes are very
light and formed of seal skin upon a
small wooden frame, neatly and securely
fastened together with the sinews of
the reindeer; their huts and clothing are
formed of the seal skin. The imple-
ments used by them are skillfully con-
structed, and their expertness in throw
ing their darts is surprising.
The winter habitations of the Esqui-
maux are built of snow, and they are
very comfortable dwellings. Having Sc
lected spot on the river, where the
snow is about two feet deep, and sufi-
GENTLY compact, the Esquimaux COM
mence by tracing out circle of twelve
feet in diameter. The snow in the in
terror of the circle is next divided with
broad knife, having a long handle,
into slabs three feet long, six inches
thick, and twelve feet deep, being the
thickness of the layer of snow. These
slabs are tenacious enough to admit of
being moved without breaking or even
losing the sharpness of their ankles, and
they have slight degree of curvature,
corresponding with that of the circle
from which they were cut. They are
piled upon each other exactly like
courses of hewn stone around the circle
which is traced out, and care is taken to
smooth the beds of the different courses
with the knife, and to cut them so as to
give the wall slight inclination in
wards, By which contrivance the build
ing acquires the properties of a dome.
The dome is closed somewhat suddenly
and fatty by cutting the other slabs in
a wedge-form, instead of the more rec
tangular shape of those below, The
roof is about eight feet high, and the
last aperture is shut up by a small
conical piece. The whole is built from
within, and each slab is cut so that it
retains its position without requiring
support until another is placed beside it,
the lightness of the slabs greatly facili-
tating the operation.
When the building is covered in, a
little loose snow is thrown over it, to
close up every chink, and low door is
cut through the walls with the knife.
A bed-place is next formed, and neatly
faced up with slabs of snow, which is
then covered with thin layer of pine
branches, to prevent them from melting
by the heat of the body. AT each end
of the bed pillar of snow is erected to
place a lamp upon; and, lastly, porch
is built before the door, and piece of
clear ice is placed in an aperture cut in
| the wall for a window.
The purity of the material of which
the house is framed, the elegance of its
construction, and the translucency of its
walls, which transmits very pleasant
light, gives it an appearancefar superior
to marble building, and one may sur
vey it with a feeling somewhat akin to
lhose produced by the contemplation OF
a Grecian temple, reared by Phidias
Both are triumphs of art, inimitable il
| their kinds.