filled up with a strong wicker-work, and the whole covered with turf; so that a jourt has externally the appearance of a round squat hillock.  A hole is left in the centre, which serves for chimney, window, and entrance, and the inhabitants pass in and out by means of a strong pole (instead of a ladder), notched just deep enough to afford a little holding to the toe.  There is likewise another entrance in the side, even with the ground, for the convenience of the women; but if a man makes use of it, he subjects himself to the same disgrace and derision as a sailor would who descends through lubbers hole.  The jourt consists of one apartment, of the form of an oblong square.  Along the sides are extended broad platforms made of boards, and raised about six inches from the ground, which they use as seats, and on which they go to rest, after strewing them with mats and skins.  On one side is the fire-place, and the side opposite is entirely set apart for the stowage of provisions and kitchen-utensils.  At their feasts, and ceremonious entertainments, the hotter the jourts are made for the reception of the guests, the greater the compliment.  We found them at all times so hot, as to make any length of stay in them to us intolerable.  They betake themselves to the jourts the middle of October; and, for the most part, continue in them till the middle of May.

The balagans are raised upon nine posts, fixed into the earth in three rows, at equal distances from one another, and about thirteen feet high from the surface.  At the height of between nine and ten feet, rafters are passed from post to post, and firmly secured by strong ropes.  On these rafters are laid the joists, and the whole being covered with turf, constitutes the platform or floor of the balagan.  On this is raised a roof of a conical figure, by means of tall poles, fastened down to the rafters at one end, and meeting together in a point at the top, and thatched over with strong coarse grass.  The balagans have two doors placed opposite each other, and they ascend to them by the same sort of ladders they use in the jourts.  The lower part is left entirely open; and within it they dry their fish, roots, vegetables, and other articles of winter consumption.  The proportion of jourts and balagans, is as one to six; so that six families generally live together in one jourt.

The loghouses (isbas) are raised with long timbers piled horizontally, the ends being let into one another, and the seams caulked with moss.  The roof is sloping like that of our common cottage-houses, and thatched with coarse grass or rushes.  The inside consists of three apartments.  At one end is what may be called the entry, which runs the whole width and height of the house, and is the receptacle of their sledges, harness, and other more bulky gears and household stuff.  This communicates with the middle and best apartment, furnished with broad benches,