The St. Johns herald., 1892-08-18
ESQUIMAUX HOUSES.
Home of the Denizens of the
 Frozen Regions
They Are Not Constructed of Snow and Ice as Is Commonly Supposed But Are Similar 10 In-
 dIan Wigwams.

It seems to be the popular belief that all Esquimaux live in snow huts or igloos during the winter. When I 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 he Esguimaux whom Kane and many other arctic travellers have so interest ingly described. So, without giving the natter a second thought, l took all these prccoaceived notions for granted. h dreamily anticipating the strange things was to see visions of clusters cf sDow huts, hurrying dog sled5 and other typical Esquimaux scenes that we are all so familiar with passed before me.
 After entering Behring's sea VIC sailed northwesterly 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 a sand pile thrown up by con- fiicting currents few feet higher than Che sea, and at its very extremity-on the bleak point exposed to the full weep of the cold arctic winds-was the
 ttlement of cluster of perhaps fifty uts made upon the general plan of an Indian wigwam, says the Brooklyn Times. These found to be permanent abodes ana inhabited all the year round.
 I inquired for the snow huts and learned that their use was very lit tie known-l might say unknown for the snow shelters these Siberian Esquimaux use are most temporary, ilnple affairs possible, serving only as shelter for a few hours or perhaps a night or two from an unexpected cold, piercing gale that is laden with chill, accumulated from blowing over hun dreds of miles of Arctic ice and snow.
 Here was a disappointment. One Of the most picturesque, characteristic parts of Esquimau existence, as popular V understood, was wanting. But, after Fl, these were only Siberian Bsqui- raaux Over on the coast of Alaska we vould find the genuine Esquimaux, with sii the necessary accomplishments that ihcy were expected to have.
 It seemed as though something was lacking in these Siberian Esquimaux to make them the genuine article. And yet their huts were perhaps more inter csting than the snow hEts would have been.
 The typical hut of the Siberian Esqui- mau is circular and from fifteen to twenty feet in diameter. 1t is rude framework made of pieces of driftwood gathered along the beach, put together without the use of a nail, but lashed at all necessary points with strips of seal skin.
 The poles forming the roof slant up to common point, and here a small hole is left open at all times for smoke and foul air to get out, and not unfre quently for snow and fresh air to get in. This whole framework is covered with walrus hides, carefully sewed to- gether, and oftentimes stretched or while green.
 Walrus have become so scarce that these hides are usually split in order to make the supply go round. An Esqpi- mau 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 two or three families will oc- cupy it.
 Separate from the main, but inside, is another hut complete within itself. This is made by using deerslin hang ings. And it is in this second hut that the natives sleep. Fresh air is never known to find its way into this inner abode, and how the native can sleep there without choking to death with the foul air is mystery that no white man can understand.
 Attached to the rear of the hut on the outside is lean-to shelter or scaffold- ing. This is used for storing canoes, meat and other things mp out of reach of the dogs, and for protecting sledges and other things from the full blast of the elements.
 Whenever these buts get leaBy from long use or ill-usage patches of hide arc sewed on over the holes, and the roof of nearly every hut in the settlement has a patchwork effect. Many huts, too, have pieces of boards around their base, relies of the 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 faIniliarly called by the whalemen, Indian Point, So it was all along the coast Of Siberia; snow huts were practically unknown, and every family lived in permanent, substantial abode. which was occupied all the year round.
 An Ingenious Calculation.