The Eskimos of the north coast are much like the Eskimos of Greenland, both in language and in the way they live.  Their summer shelters are skin tents, which they call tupeks.  In winter they build dome-shaped houses from blocks of snow, though they sometimes have cave-like shelters of stone and earth built against the side of a hill.  The snow houses they call iglooweuks, or houses of snow; the stone and earth shelters are igloosoaks, or big igloos, the word igloo, in the Eskimo language, meaning house.  When winter comes big snow drifts soon cover the igloosoaks, and the snow keeps out the wind and cold.  As a further protection, snow tunnels, through which the people crawl on hands and knees, are built out from the entrance to the igloosoak, and these keep all drafts, when a gale blows, from those within.

The Eskimos heat their snow igloos, and in treeless regions their igloosoaks also, with lamps of hollowed stone.  These lamps are made in the form of a half moon.  Seal oil is used as fuel, and a rag, if there is any to be had, or moss, resting upon the straight side of the lamp, does service as the wick.

Of course the snow igloos must never be permitted to get so warm that the snow will melt.  The temperature in a snow house is therefore kept at about thirty degrees, or a little lower.  Nevertheless it is comfortable enough, when the temperature outside is perhaps forty or fifty degrees below zero and quite likely a stiff breeze blowing.  Comfort is always a matter of comparison.  I have spent a good many nights in snow houses, and was always glad to enjoy the comfort they offered.  To the traveler who has been in the open all day, the snow house is a cozy retreat and a snug enough place to rest and sleep in.

On the east coast the Eskimos are more civilized and live much like the liveyeres.  All Eskimos are kind hearted, hospitable people.  Once, I remember, when an Eskimo host noticed that the bottom of my sealskin mocasins had worn through to the stocking, he pulled those he wore off his feet, and insisted upon me wearing them.  He had others, to be sure, but they were not so good as those he gave me.  No matter how poorly off he is, an Eskimo will feel quite offended if a visitor does not share with him what he has to eat.

Though Dr. Grenfell’s hospitals are farther south, on the coast where the liveyeres have their cabins, he cruises northward to the Eskimo country of the east coast every summer, and in the summer has nursing stations there.  Sometimes, when there is a case demanding it, he brings the sick Eskimos to one of the hospitals.  But, generally, the east coast Eskimos are looked after by the Moravian Brethren in their missions, and in summer Dr. Grenfell calls at the missions to give them his medical and surgical assistance.