Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 33.djvu/519

Rh half a dozen to occupy that miserable little box at night, deprived of all fresh air save the little that might strain through the reeds of the house wall, for "freshness" can not be applied to the air from the interior of the house itself, that must reek with the stench of rancid oil, half-cured fish, smoke, etc., and, as for fleas and insects not usually mentioned in polite society, let us draw the curtain!

We have now passed quite round the hut and reached the entrance on the north side of the wicket fence. In this corner were the spare clothes, rough-weather garments, and private boxes of the master and mistress.

An iron kettle was hanging from a crane over the fireplace, and strips of sword-fish and salmon-flesh were curing on a frame suspended over the fire, the smoke being increased by burning green wood and leaves. The effect of this pungent, stinging smoke was very trying to eyes and lungs, and compelled me to cut my visit and minute description rather shorter than I would have wished.

Various fishing and hunting implements and miscellaneous odds and ends were placed on the cross-beams, or on shelves



resting upon them, just as will be seen in farmers' and peasants' houses the world over. Though hunting and fishing are essentially the occupations of the men, and the women's assistance is only called in to perform the drudgery of cleaning, salting, and curing the fish and dressing and cooking the bear's meat, still the women