266 
the sea at the N. East, near Bombetok. It is irregularly built, 
on the side of a large chain of mountains, and presents, from 
a distance, the appearance of a labyrinth, surrounded by 
fosses, most of the houses being perched on eminences, de- 
scents, or the edges of chasms. It consists of about three 
thousand houses, chiefly made of rushes, and thatched with 
straw; but those of the nobility are of good carpenter-work, 
well-built, and spacious. The roof, that is higher than the 
whole house, and covered with rushes, very neatly woven, 
and impenetrable to rain, is supported within by three large 
trees, resembling the masts of a frigate, one at each end .and 
one in the middle. On each side of the copeing of the roof 
are two poles, which cross and form forks, often sixty feet 
long, and to the points of these forks are attached little birds 
made of wood, and even of silver, which are understood to 
signify the happiness and prosperity which prevail in the 
dwelling. The houses are divided with partitions of matting, 
and the furniture generally consists only of large earthen pots 
for holding water, with lids of matting, and small dishes, 
some large plates for holding the food, a pestle for bruising 
rice, a broom, and some tobacco-boxes in the bed and on 
the hearth, there being no chimney in the house. The bed 
is raised to twelve feet high; in the larger dwellings, even 
eighteen and twenty feet; they go up to it by a kind of ladder. 
Beside the bed is another elevation, where a three months’ - 
stock of rice is laid up. ‘The hearth is in the centre of the 
room: one is for the master, and two smaller hearths for the 
children and slaves. "The interior of the houses, which have 
but a single door, constructed of one piece of wood, and of 
enormous height, so that you enter by climbing on a lump of 
rock laid before it, and a single window, almost as high from 
the ground, and both looking west, is generally excessively 
dirty; its whole decoration consists in rush mats, which serve 
for seats, for beds and coverlids, and round the walls are 
ranged the family stock of plates, bottles, &c. Frequently 
the poultry and sheep share the habitation, which is commonly 
infested with an incredible number of rats. Near each house 
is a kind of large cellar, dug in the ground, and used for the 
