THE WORLD OF ICE. 251

carrying in one of the muskets that had been left out-
side by mistake.

As for the Esquimaux, they recked not of the
weather. Their snow-huts were warm, and their
mouths were full, so like wise men and women they
waited patiently within doors till the storm should
blow itself out. The doings of these poor people were
very curious. They ate voraciously, and evidently
preferred their meat raw. But when the sailors
showed disgust at this, they at once made a small
fire of moss mingled with blubber, over which they
half-cooked their food.

Their mode of procuring fire was curious. Two
small stones were taken—one a piece of white quartz,
the other a piece of iron-stone—and struck together
smartly. The few sparks that flew out were thrown
upon a kind of white down, found on the willows,
under which was placed a lump of dried moss. It
was usually a considerable time before they succeeded
in catching a spark; but, once caught, they had no
difficulty in blowing it into a flame.

They had also an ingenious contrivance for melting
snow. This was a flat stone, supported by two other
stones, and inclined shehtly at one end. Upon this flat
stone a lump of snow was placed, and below it was
kindled a small fire of moss and blubber. When the
stone became heated, the snow melted and flowed
down the incline into a small seal-skin cup placed
there to catch it.

During the continuance of the storm the sailors