The earth floor of these tents is six or eight feet wide and eight or ten feet long, according to the size of the family.
In recent years my Eskimos have adopted an improvement upon the building customs of the west coast natives, and many of them have an entrance extension to their tents made of transparent tanned sealskins, thick enough to keep out the rain but not the light.

This adds to the roominess and comfort of their summer dwellings.

A usual practice among the better class of Eskimos is to use the old tupik of the previous summer for a rain or weather-guard to the new tent.

In heavy winds or heavy summer rains, the old tupik is simply spread over the new one, thus giving a double thickness and protection to the owners.
The bed platform in the tupik is now generally made of lumber, which I have furnished, raised on stones, and in pleasant weather the cooking is done outside.

Oil is the only fuel for heat, light, and cooking.