This contrivance, called _Inn~et~at_,
is intended for the reception of any wet things, and is usually loaded
with boots, shoes, and mittens.
The fireplace just described as situated at the upper end of the
apartment, has always two lamps facing different ways, one for each
family occupying the corresponding bedplace. There is frequently, also,
a smaller and less-pretending establishment on the same model--lamp,
pot, net, and all--in one of the corners next the door; for one
apartment sometimes contains three families, which are always closely
related; and no married woman, or even a widow without children, is
without her separate fireplace.
With all the lamps lighted and the hut full of people and dogs, a
thermometer placed on the net over the fire indicated a temperature of
38 deg.; when removed two or three feet from this situation, it fell to
31 deg.; and, placed close to the wall, stood at 23 deg., the temperature
of the open air at the time being 25 deg. below _zero_. A greater degree
of warmth than this produces extreme inconvenience by the dropping from
the roofs. This they endeavour to obviate by applying a little piece of
snow to the place from which a drop proceeds, and this adhering, is for a
short time an effectual remedy; but for several weeks in the spring, when
the weather is too warm for these edifices, and still too cold for tents,
they suffer much on this account.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220