1840.] GRASS-HOUSES. 389 



On a sbouleter, near the top, is laid a horizontal pole, two or 

 three inches in diameter, as a plate ; on this, directly over the 

 posts, rest the rafters. A point of the post, called a finger, 

 rises on the outside of the plate, and passes between two 

 points of the rafter projecting over the plate and below the 

 main shoulder. The joint thus constructed is held together 

 partly by the natural pressure of the roof, and partly by lash- 

 ings of bark, vines, or grassy fibres, beaten, and by hand 

 twisted and doubled into a coarse twine, and put on manifold, 

 so as to act as four braces — two from the post, and two from 

 the rafter, extending to the plate, all being attached six to 

 twelve inches from the joint. Three poles or posts, about 

 three times the length of the side posts, are set in the ground, 

 one in the centre of the building, and the others at the ends, 

 on which rests the nether ridge pole, supporting the head of 

 the rafters. These crossing each other, the angle above re- 

 ceives the upper ridge pole, which" is lashed to the nether and 

 to the head of the rafters. Posts of unequal length are set 

 at the ends of the building, sloping a little inward and reach- 

 ing to the end rafters, to which their tops are tied. A door 

 frame, from three to six feet high, is placed between two end 

 or side posts. Thatch-poles are tied horizontally to the posts 

 and rafters, from an inch to three inches apart, all around, 

 and from the ground to the top ridge pole. At this stage the 

 building assumes the appearance of a huge, rude bird-cage. 

 It is then covered with the leaf of the ki, pandanus, sugar- 

 cane, or more commonly (as in the case of the habitations 

 for us) with grass, bound or in small bundles, side by side, 

 one tier overlapping another, like shingles. A house thus 

 thatched assumes the appearance of a long haystack without, 

 and a cage in a haymow within. The area, or ground within, 

 is raised a little with earth* to prevent the influx of water, 

 and spread with grass and mats, answering usually instead 

 of floors, tables, chairs, sofas, and beds. Air can pass through 

 the thatching, and often there is one small opening through 

 the thatch besides the door, for ventilation and light."* 



* Bingham's Sandwich Islands, pp. 115, 110. 



