Ten months among the tents of the Tuski, with incidents of an Arctic boat expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, as far as the Mackenzie River, and Cape Bathurst . y as a newproof that Man wants but little here below. It consisted of a solitary apartment, twenty byeighteen feet; was constructed of roughly-hewn pine-logs of large dimensions, the interstices being-plastered with mud, which I must remark, by theby, was the universal substitute for mortar in theMackenzie River and adjacent districts. The twocasements were formed by tightly-stretched sheets ofsemilucent parchment, which, where
Ten months among the tents of the Tuski, with incidents of an Arctic boat expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, as far as the Mackenzie River, and Cape Bathurst . y as a newproof that Man wants but little here below. It consisted of a solitary apartment, twenty byeighteen feet; was constructed of roughly-hewn pine-logs of large dimensions, the interstices being-plastered with mud, which I must remark, by theby, was the universal substitute for mortar in theMackenzie River and adjacent districts. The twocasements were formed by tightly-stretched sheets ofsemilucent parchment, which, where imperfect, wererepaired with scraps of foolscap; the light admittedthereby was well suited for weak eyes; the door hadbeen made of green wood, and its parts had shrunkwidely asunder; the openings thus formed werestuffed with lynx-skin, which gave it a very motleyappearance. The roof was flat, of sticks and moss, in 300 OUR DOMESTIC ARRANGEMKNTS. layers ; these being very dry, caught fire tliree or fourtimes during our stay, and caused much trouble, anddanger of losing our dwelling, which, rough though itwas, we should sadly have missed at this season. Lli(r *IX. NEW FORT FRANKLIN. No pampered luxury was evidenced in the nature andarrangement of the furniture: one treble, twodouble, and one single bedstead, of Avorkmanshipcurious as elegant, being all the unaided product ofthe axe, stools of massive condition, each formedfrom a single block, and a table, which ever GOODS AND CHATTELS. 307 perversely declined to repose upon more than two legsat a time, and whose wrinkled old face displayed aperpetual grin as if in mockery at our efforts, con-stituted the major part of the property ; the rest ofthe chattels were fishing-nets and lines, blankets,ancient garments, and a most unique collection ofcooking utensils : four tin plates, one tin drinkingcup, a bouilli tin for the same purpose, a fork, andtwo spoons of silver, and two of native horn, one ofwhich from its antiquity might have
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjecteskimos, bookyear1853
