The Irish standard., 1891-10-17
SQUIMAUX HOUSES.
Home OF the Denizens of the
Frozen Regions.
They Are Not Constructed Of Snow and
Ice as Is Commonly Supposed
But Are Similar to In-
dian Wigwams.

It seems to be the popular belief that
ill Esquimaux live in snow huts or
igloos during the winter. When went
to the Arctic. in 1877, looked forward
to seeing plenty of these habitations. I
had not read up at all in regard to the
natives of Arctic Siberia or Alaska, but
took it for granted that they were like
the Esquimaux whom Kane and many
other arctic travellers have so interest
ingly described. So, without giving the
matter second Thought, I took all
these preconceived notions for granted.
In dreamily anticipating the strange
things was to see visions Of clusters of
snow huts, hurrying dog sleds and other
typical Esquinlaux scenes that we are
all so familiar with passed before me.
After entering Behring's sea we
sailed northwcsterly and reached the
coast Of Siberia about FIVE hundred
miles south of Behring's straits Here,
at Cape Tehaplin, was the largest
settlement of Esquimaux on the coast
Of Siberia. The cape is a long, narrow
point of land jutting boldly out into the
sea FOR eight or ten miles.
It is sand pile thrown up by con-
ficting currents few feet higher than
the sea, and at it's very e1tremity-on
the bleak point exposed to the full
sweep of the cold arctic winds-was tho
settlement Of a cluster of perhaps fifty
huts made upon the general plan of an
Indian wigwam, says the Brooklyn
Times. These found to be permanent
I'll
I inquired for the snow huts and
learned that their use was very lit
tile known--l might say unknown
Tor the snow shelters these Siberian
Esquimaux use are most temporary,
simple affairs possible, serving only as
shelter for a few honrs or perhaps q
night or two from an unexpected cold,
piercing gale that is laden with chill,
accumulated from blowing over hum
dreds OF miles of Arctic ice and snow.
Here WAS disappointment. One Of
the most picturesque, characteristic
parts Of Esquimau existence, as popular
II understood, was wanting. But, after
all, these were only Siberian Esqui-
maux. Over on the coast OF Alaska we
would find the genuine Esquimaux, with
all the necessary accomplishments that
they were expected to have.
1t seemed as though something was
lacking in these Siberian Esquimaux to
make them the genuine article. And
yet their huts were perhaps more inter-
esting than the snow huts would have
heen.
The typical hut Of the Siberian Esqui-
maui is circular and from fifteen to
twenty feet in diameter. 1t is a rude
framework made of pieces of driftwood
gathered along the beach, put together
without the use Of a nail, but .ashed at
I'll necessary points with strips of seal
skin.
The poles forming the roof slant up
to q common point, and here a small
hole is LETT open at all times for smoke
aud foul air to get out, and not unfre~
qnently for snow and fresh air to get
in. This whole framework is covered
with waLcus hides, carefully sewed to-
gether, aud oftentiDaes stretched Oh
while green.
Walrrs have become so scarce that
these hides are usually split in order to
make the supply go round. An Esqni-
n,au woman with a common sheath
knife Will split one of these hides with
the greatest Of ease.
The doorway of these huts is an OPEN
ing about two and one-half feet wide
and perhaps five feet high. Such a hut
has considerable interior space, and
perhaps tive or three families will oc-
oupy it.
Separate from the main, but inside, is
another hut complete within itself.
This is made by using deerskin hang
ings. And it is in this second hut thai
She nativea sleep. Fresh air is never
known to find it's way into this inner
abode, and how the native can sleep
there without choking to death with
the foul air is q mystery that no white
MAN can understand.
Attached to the rear of the hut on the
outside Is a lean-to shelter or scafold-
Ing. This is used for storing canoes,
meat and other things up out of reach
Of the dogs, and for protecting sledges
and other things from the full blast OF
the elements.
Whenever these huts get leaky from
long use or ll-usage patches Of hide are
sewed ON over the holes, and the roof OF
nearly every hut in the settlement has
q patchwork effect. Many huts, too,
have pieces of boards around their
base, relics of tho many whale ships
that have been wrecked in this vicinity.
And as it was at this place, Cape Te-
haplin. or, as it is more Familiarity
called by the whalemen, Indian Point,
90 IL was all along the coast Of Siberia;
snow nuts were practically unknown.
and every family lived in q permanent,
substantial abode, which was occupied
Ill the year round.
An Ingenious Calculation.
There is theory evolved by French
scientist to the effect that the human
race is diminishing in size and will
finally become microscopic and vanish