■779' Krafrîieninïcoff, I iha ll proceed to a defcription of their hao
a o b e r . . . . , , r , i bitations and drels.
T he houfes ( if they may be allowed that name) are o f
three diftindï forts, jourts, balagans, and loghoufes, called here
i/bas. T he firft are their winter, the fécond their fummer
habitations ; the third are altogether o f Ruffian intro-
duflion, and inhabited only by the better and wealthier
fort.
The jourts, or winter habitations, are conftrufted in the
fo llow in g manner : An oblong fquare, o f dimenfions proportioned
to the number o f perfons fo r whom it is intended
(for it is proper to obferve, that fevéral families live together
in the fame jourt) is d u g in the earth to rhe depth o f
about fix feet. Within this fpace, ftrong polls, or wooden
pillars, are fattened in the ground, at proper diftances from
each other, on w hich are extended the beams fo r the fup-
port o f the roof, which is formed by joiils, refting on the
ground with one end, and on the beams with the other.
T h e interftices between the joifts are filled up with a ft ro n g
wicker-work, and the whole covered with tu r f; fo that a
jourt has externally the appearance o f a round fquat hillock.
A hole is left in the center, w hich ferves fo r chimney, window,
and entrance, and the inhabitants pafs in and out by
means of a ftrong pole (inftead o f a ladder) notched juft
deep enough to afford a little holding to the toe. There is
lik e wife another entrance in the fide, even with the ground,
for the convenience o f the women ; but i f a man makes
ufe o f it, he fubje&s him fe lf to the fame difgrace and de-
-rifion, as a failor would, who defcends through lubbers-
-hole. The jourt confifts o f one apartment, o f the form o f
An oblong fquare. Along the lides are extended broad platforms
forms made o f boards, and raifed about fix inches from the
ground, which they ufe as feats, and on which they go to '— y—
reft after ftrewing them with mats and ikins. On one fide
is the fire-place, and the fide oppofite is entirely fet apart-
for the ftowage o f provifions and kitchen utenfils. At their
feafts, and ceremonious entertainments, the hotter the jourts
are made for the reception o f the guefts, the greater the
compliment. , found them at all times l b hot, as to.
make any length o f flay in them to us intolerable. T h e y
betake themfefves, to the jourts the middle o f O fto b e r;
and, for the mod part, continue in them till the middle
o f May.
The balagans are raifed upon nine pofts, fixed into the earth
in three rows, at equal diftances from one another,.and
about thirteen feet high from the furface. At the height o f
between nine and ten feet, rafters are palled from poll to
poll, and firmly fecured by ftrong ropes. On thefe rafters-
are laid the joifts, and the whole being covered with turf,
eonftitutes the platform or floor o f the balagan. On this is
raifed a roof o f a conical figure, b y means o f tall poles,
fattened down to the rafters at one end, and meeting together
in a point at the top, and thatched over with ftrong
coarfe grafs. T h e balagans have two doors placed oppofite
each other, and they afcend to them by the fame fort o f
ladders they ufe in the jmr.ts. T he lower part is left in-
tirely op en ; and within | they dry. their filh, roots, vegetables,
and other articles o f winter confumptian. T h e proportion
o f jourts to balagans, is as one to fix; fo.that fix fami?
lies generally live together in one. jourt.
The loghoufes (ijbasj are raifed with long timbers piled'
horizontally, the ends being let into one another, and the
feams