LIFE IN A ESQUIMAUX HUT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6505, 2 January 1882, Page 6

LIFE IN A ESQUIMAUX HUT.

The correspondent who accompanied the Arctic Expedition of lieutenant Greeley, gives this graphic account of the interior of an Esquimaux hut, and the every-day costume of its mistress : At Proven a better opportunity for studying the habits of 'the primitive Esquimaux was afforded than at any other place we have visited. The whalers and exfloiing parties seldom visit it, and the influence of the white man is less perceptible. They retain their habits of life as practised before they improved their condition, to a greater extent than in other parts of Greenland. I spent four hours consecutively in one of their least attractive “ gloss,” or huts. My pretext for so protracted a stay was ostensibly awaiting the completion of a cap of eider down, on which one of the squaws was engaged. The hut was built of turf, moss, and stone, and was entered by a long, narrow low passage or tunnel—so that I was compelled to crawl on hands and feet, a most disagreeable and humiliating proceeding, as the dogs and natives (not much better in point of cleanliness) also have ingress and egress through the same vestibule. On reaching the small interior hole, which was living, eating and sleeping room, the first I {lance discovered the mistress of the house :n an extremely airy costume, sitting on the shelf or platform on which they sleep. By due process of barter a neckerchief that 1 had worn was transferred to the possession of the squaw in exchange for the eider cap to which I referred, and which she at once proceeded to make, first measuring the dome pf my intellect with great precision. The room was too low to admit of standing upright. No stove or fire-place appeared j as a substitute was a hollowed stone, used as a. lamp, with seal oil for fuel and moss for a wick. The’ atmosphere of the room was stifling and extremely nauseating from' the odour of sealskins strewn around. The sleeping arrangements were most simple. A platform about two feet high and extending from the wall about sue feet occupied one side of the room. This is the receptacle of skins and furs during the day, and when the Nativea retire they make it a general couch, each disciple of Morpheus drawing over himself or herself so many of the skins as are necessary for oomfort. The costume of the Esquimaux women is so nearly like that of the men that at first glance it is difficult to distinguish the sexes. The women, however—as all the world over—dress in a more pleating manway than the men. The costume generally consists of a pair of dainty boots of dressed sealskin, stained different colours and ornamented with small pieces out in fanoy forms, whioh reach above the knee. Then come the pantaloons, or also of sealskin, but with the hair on. These are very short reaching hardly half way down the thigh, where they meet the boots or leggings. The upper part of the body is covered by a loose fitting cassock, or smock, devoid of buttons, which is pulled on ovsr the head. An attached hood can be drawn over the head or allowed to fall back on the shoulders at pleasure. A pair of , the aforementioned trunks, or pantaloons, was I the only part of the costume that the dusky I maker or my cap saw fit to wear. She appeared to work with greater facility, however, than it trammelled with clothing, as she deftly held the materials in position with her toes while she (rimmed or fitted them. Two or three children were hanging about her without seeming to impede her progress in the leest. As soon completed she placed the cap on my head, and proved at once the poesession of at least ‘one quality in common with her more civilized sisters, of being able to flatter by showing in gestures and expressions great admiration, but whether for hsr handiwork or our appearance we oould hot determine, but I at cnee was reminded of the remark of the descendant of Israel: “It fits you like de paper on de wall.” I was indeed glad to escape from the unfragrant place. The single .window was made of membraneous tissue of the stomach of the seal. This substance when oiled became almost as transparent as glass. Many of the natives, however, live m much better dwellings than the one I have described. Such an one represent# the habitations of the poorer doss.