BAKED H0USFS OF INDIA. 315 



This pile of combuftibles is arranged in feveral ftages, Arranged in 

 of three, four, or five feet thick, feparated from each other J 3 ^^"/* 3 

 by layers of earth or half dried turf of from eight to ten ear th. 

 inches depth ; the upper ftages are firft fet on fire, fo that the The upper fhges 

 wall is baked through its whole extent from top to bottom. ^kindled* 

 The charge of the combuftibles for each of the ftages is fo 

 managed, that the lowed is the greateft, and is diminished 

 for each as it is nearer the top of the wall ; as the pile burns 

 down the fire of the lower ftages ftill acts on the upper part 

 of the walls, which permits tiae upper ftages to be of lefs 

 thicknefs. The fire bakes the walls to a thicknefs of from Walls thus fcaked 

 fix to ten inches, as tiles are baked in a kiln. And thus walls ff ro e m £ " 

 are built in a fingle piece, and of the greateft folidity, which ten inches, 

 have the more ftrenglh, as there are no junctures in them. 

 Wherefore they ought to prevent the greateft poflible refift- 

 ance to the action of the atmoiphere, the attacks of floods, 

 and the fall of rain, which defcends in torrents in moll 

 countries of Indoftan during the rainy feafon. 



Experience has conftantly proved, that the houfes built in Thefe houfes 

 this manner not only laft much longer than thofe built blJjJftSjfijj? 

 bricks, but that they alfo refill belter the attacks of the and refift floods 

 periodical inundations, and thofe of tbe annual rains to which and raln bettcr# 

 they are expofed in this climate. 



The method in which the terrace roofs (which are called Their roofs are 

 in India argamace) are formed for thefe houfes, is the J£*ee byeis* 1 * 

 following : 



Immediately after the baking and cooling of the walls, the 

 allies and the bars which fuftained the coffer work are re- 

 moved. ■ The beams and joifts are placed, and covered 

 either with very thin boards, or elfe with fmall green branches; 

 and upon this fupport the different layers of the terrace roof 

 are placed. The firft layer is fim ply clay, with an equal Firft Ja y cr cam- 

 quantity of ok, afpecies of marl in powder, which is pounded a ^- mA ofmzr) '* 

 in trough*, fuch as are ufed for preparing mortar. This firft layer four or five 

 is four or five inches thick, and it is then levelled, and is mches thick * 

 moiftened from time to time, in order- to beat it firm with 

 fmall bats. As foon as this is dry, the fecond layer is laid on, 

 which confifts of potters clay worked up in the fame manner Second layer 

 as if prepared for making pottery; this layer is only two JJ^* 1 ^^® 

 or three inches thick at moft. It is levelled according to the thick, 

 flope of the terrace, which is given it in placing the beams 



and 



