Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/156

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116
The Natural Hiſtory

Women, attending their Work of ſewing and making up of the Cloathing. The Men with their Sons occupy the foremoſt Parts of the Benches, turning their Back to the Women: On the oppoſite Side, under the Windows, the Men belonging to the Family, or Strangers, take their Seats upon Benches there placed.

I cannot forbear taking Notice, that though in one of theſe Houſes there be ten or twenty Train-Lamps, Their Way of making Fire, or dreſſing their Lamps.one does not perceive the Steam or Smoak thereof to fill theſe ſmall Cottages: The Reaſon, I imagine is, the Care they take in trimming thoſe Lamps, viz. they take dry. Moſs, rubbed very ſmall, which they lay on one Side of the Lamp, which, being lighted, burns ſoftly, and does not cauſe any Smoak, if they do not lay it on too thick, or in Lumps. Give a great Heat.This Fire gives ſuch a Heat, that it not only ſerves to boil their Victuals, but alſo heats their Rooms to that Degree, that it is as hot as a Bagnio. But for thoſe who are uſed to this Way of firing, the
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