THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 375 



forms made of boards, and raifed about fix inches from the r 779- 



O&ober. 



ground, which they ufe as feats, and on which they go to ' » * 



reft, after ftrewing them with mats and fkins. On one fide 

 is the fire-place, and the fide oppofite is entirely fet aparc 

 for the ftowage of provifions and kitchen utenfils. At their 

 feafts, and ceremonious entertainments, the hotter the jourts 

 are made for the reception of the guefts, the greater the 

 compliment. We found them at all times fo hot, as to 

 make any length of flay in them to us intolerable. They 

 betake themfelves to the jourts the middle of October ; 

 and, for the moft part, continue in them till the middle 

 of May. 



The balagans are raifed upon nine polls, fixed into the earth' 

 in three rows, at equal diftances from one another, and 

 about thirteen feet high from the furface. At the height of 

 between nine and ten feet, rafters are pafled from poft to 

 port, and firmly fecured by ftrong ropes. On thefe rafters 

 are laid the joifts, and the whole being covered with turf, 

 conflitutes the platform or floor of the balagan. On this is 

 raifed a roof of a conical figure, by means of tall poles, 

 faftened down to the rafters at one end, and meeting toge- 

 ther in a point at the top, and thatched over with ftrong 

 coarfe grafs. The balagans have two doors placed oppofite 

 each other, and they afcend to them by the fame fort of 

 ladders they ufe in the jourts. The lower part is left in- 

 tirely open ; and within it they dry their fifh, roots, vege- 

 tables, and other articles of winter confumption. The pro- 

 portion of jourts to balagansy is as one to fix ; fo that fix fami- 

 lies generally live together in one jpurp. 



The loghoufes (ijbasj are raifed with long timbers piled 

 Horizontally, the ends being let into one another, and the 



feams 



