CHINA. 1751. 229 



and therefore they have been obliged to make 

 fhift as they can. Since they like to lead their 

 foughs underground, the foundations of their 

 houfes mufl coft a great deal ; but the fuper- 

 ftrutfures are not very durable. Here and 

 there you meet with open yards, in the midft 

 of which the floors of lodging-rooms are laid, 

 and covered with nothing elfe but a tile-roof. 

 The (fairs are under the fame inconvenience 

 with thofe at Suratte, viz. they are narrow, 

 and the fleps are high and likewife narrow. 

 When the rooms cannot get light enough from 

 the doors and open walls, they have windows 

 of mother-of-pearl : for which reafon the ca- 

 thedral church at Goa, on account of fuch 

 windows, need not be thought one of the 

 wonders of the world. The walls are covered 

 with fine white or painted paper, and orna- 

 mented with fome Chinefe or European draw- 

 ings. The Chinefe in their own houfes fix up 

 generally fome tables of proverbs. Almoft 

 clofe to each room is a little garden, in which 

 are fome flower-beds, and fcaffolds for flower- 

 pots, and greater veifels for fhells, eold- 

 fifhes, &c. • 



Their pillars or columns ferve only to bear 



the rafters. Mr. Chambers, 1 fuppofe, has al- 



Q. 3 ready 



