Descriptive booklet on the Alaska historical museum . Eskimo drinks great quantities ofwater. It is curious that with its worldof congealed water the Arctic shouldbe a veritable Sahara. Water is usuallysupplied by melted snow or ice andthe lamp is brought into requisitionfor the purpose, though sometimes thewarmth of the hut is sufficient, es-pecially if the vessel containing thesnow is placed near the flame. (Ibid.)The value of the lamp in arts is verygreat. First in importance is the bend-ing of wood for snowshoes, boxes, etc.,which is accomplished by dipping thewood in water and steaming it
Descriptive booklet on the Alaska historical museum . Eskimo drinks great quantities ofwater. It is curious that with its worldof congealed water the Arctic shouldbe a veritable Sahara. Water is usuallysupplied by melted snow or ice andthe lamp is brought into requisitionfor the purpose, though sometimes thewarmth of the hut is sufficient, es-pecially if the vessel containing thesnow is placed near the flame. (Ibid.)The value of the lamp in arts is verygreat. First in importance is the bend-ing of wood for snowshoes, boxes, etc.,which is accomplished by dipping thewood in water and steaming it overthe lamp. Clothing In their primitive state the Eskimowore clothing made entirely of skins,though in the later years drilling andcalico is used in many locations. Thechief material used is the skin of rein-deer or caribou. The fine short-haired summer skins of doe and fawns areused for making underclothes and dressgarments. The heavier skins are usedfor winter clothing and stockings andmittens. The skins of seals are usedfor breeches and 42 ALASKA HISTORICAL MUSEUM The garments of the western Es-kimo are similar in general plan tothose worn by their relatives farthereastward, but vary in patterns andstyle of ornamentation. The upper partof both men and women is coveredwith a frock-like garment put on overthe head, and these garments are pro-vided with hoods. In addition, bothmen and women wear trousers. Thoseof the men are made to reach from thehip to the ankle, the feet being clothedwith socks of deerskin or grass, overwhich boots are drawn. The lowergarments of the women are combinedboots and trousers reaching to thewaist. Over the feet are sometimesdrawn skin boots, but frequently a soleof oil-tanned sealskin is attached di-rectly to the trousers. (D. E. W. Nel- son—Eskimo About the Bering Strait.)The hood of the garment is borderedby strips of skin. The outer strip ofthe hoods is made from wolfskin withthe hair standing out like a halo. Justinside of this is
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