The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-25
THREE KINDS.


With respect TO use. the Eskimos
have three kinds of lamps; they are
called the house lamp, travellers and
mortuary lamp. AS with all races at
some time, the funeral lamp is placed
in or beside the graNe--a religious rite.
The travellers or summer lamp is
quite serviceable, but to no such lie
gree as the big house lamp. When
caught in a great snowstorm the Fs-
liimo lights this and places il nrxt to
the body, beneath his blouse. 1t on.
ables him to so in quest o. fo)i
through great snowfalls, when tie f"oi
ard oil are almost gone. 1t has it's
mcst typical uses.
| Proceeding on the plan that a slab
| of stone, roll of moss and chunk Of
blubber are all sufficient for his pur-
pose, the Eskimo manufactures a lamp
| that serves his wonts completely.
! Soapstone is the best material for
| lamps, and since it is very scarce. eN-
traordinary journeys lasting several
years are made in search of it. The
stone is Clipped and scraped till it re-
sembles a clam shell in shape, this be-
ing the tyne most useful, because it
gives the longest wick edge Especial
ly among the northernmost Eskimo
lamps have "A wick edge three feet
long. When several of these are burn
ing in an igloo, to their blaze the icy
walls send reflections and the dark at
least is kept at bay. The cold is pro-
hiblted sufficiently, FOR the Eskimo
does not desire too high a temperature
in his home-say 3S degrees within a
foot or two of the fire.
Most important is the bending OF wood
for snow shoes, bows and sledga run
ners, which is accomplished by dipping
the wood into water ard steaming over
a lamp. Ivory and bone are also curved
by it's heat, and skins are dried over it
I'm tanning. But the Esliimos do not
stop with these uses. They have their
lamps to thank for the stpne.li like hard
ening of q cement OF blood, clay AMI
hair This cement holds broken po;s
and lamps to gether securely, as speci-
mems attest.
| Lamp fire is not alone known to the
Eskimoan. In places where fuel can
be obtained a blaze is made in the cen
ter of the tert i'm summer. but even
where peat and some wood are found
the lamp is kept. The Eskimos Clnc
place in every household. One writer
likens an Eskimoo igloo to an inhapiye !
oven-the lamp on its gup1o"Is. alava
it the cooking pot. and still hiGhcr the
drying rack suspended from the coil
ing, on which wet clorhng is placed
The heated air rises, ANA in rurn en-
velops each article.
NO SMOKE OR SnCT.
1t seems strange thas the hut is no;
iilled with smoke and SCOT, bur accord.
ing to explorers such is not the ease
The bright, steady tame. they explain
Is produced by using none but finely
rolled moss, and having it arranged
, carefully alorg the wick edge Ever
then the moss woul" char and cause
the flame to grow dull but this is rem
edied. The wick is trimmed away reg.
ularlY, Lamp trimming is best done
. by the old women Of the tribe, wIIC
/ alone reach perfection in that art
They can so siillfully cut away tn,
} burnt refuse that the steady flame viii
| continue for several hours. This time
, is none TO long, for the lamp is useC
night and day.
, ANY fat does for burning, but sea
3 oil is preferred. This is almost who'll,
; employed because the small quantitie,
of fat taken from the reindeer 9re in
! sufficient for the long darkness. Th,
: lamps eat voraciCusiy and the peopl
t often haev TO be very careful lest thei
4 oil run low when it iss impossible 4
catch seals.
[ one always thinks of the Sahara
when thirst is mentioned, though /
I would be lust as reasonable to turn
e ones thoughts to the far north, wher,
e water for long periods is only got b!
| Tho nin of La INNS The ENsklr,nn drlnIr