98 



The Ancient Hazvaiia^i House. 



in by the wind. Up to this point the skilled thatcher strives rather to make the grass 

 lay flat and present an even appearance on the inside of the house, if there be no lining, 

 and the outside is left to look after itself for the present. The method most commonly 

 used in good houses consists in braiding the half of the grass on each side with a 

 stiffening of fresh grass until the whole forms a compact roll slightly protuberant. 



FIG. 85. GRASS HOUSE WITH NET OVER IT. 



(See Plate XXVIII.) Where a trimming of grass or fern is used, as in Fig. 66, the 

 house at Kailua, so much care is not expended, but reliance is placed on this trimming 

 to act as ridge-board. The absence of chimney and of all openings except the door 

 greatly simplifies the. work. 



The grass on each side of the door is carefully braided both for protedlion to 

 the grass and for the comfort of the persons passing in or out. In the most modern 

 grass houses, those built after the advent of foreigners, boards were substituted for the 

 more difficult finish of braiding." Thatching with grass leaves the aho uncovered 



"This was the case in Kalaimoku's house (Fig. 65) dating from some time about 1835. 



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