CULTURE OF PEOPLE OF SOUTHEASTERN PANAMA 31 



m proximity to the small plantations on the mainland arises, tem- 

 porary houses are constructed. These houses are built on the coast 

 or near to some river estuary. The dense forest growth reaches al- 

 most to the water's edge, nevertheless, new village sites in time be- 

 come permanent habitations (pi. 3), although the diseases con- 

 tracted by the natives through the proximity of an insect-infected 

 jungle often lead to their desertion; the establishment of new plan- 

 tations may also lead to the abandoning of the small coast settlements. 



In constructing a house, the Tule erect rectangular walls of ver- 

 tically placed reeds and sticks (pi. 36, No. 2). The gable, " asivri " 

 (Tule), is heavily thatched, " soska " (Tule), with overlapping palm 

 leaves placed over a framework of poles resting on a sill, " sorsenik " 

 (Tule), and terminating in a central ridge-pole extending from one 

 gable end to the other. The houses of the Tule Indians as usually 

 built are characterized by a high gable (pi. 36), sometimes reaching 

 as high as 30 to 40 feet from the ground. Directly under this ridge 

 is a large alley running between two ranges of high pillars which 

 support the middle part of the structure. Two low doors open one 

 at each end of the building. The walls, built of sticks and reeds, 

 are tied together, as are all parts of the building, with iron withe, a 

 mountain plant. A building may shelter from 16 to 20 families 

 and is as much as 50 feet wide and 150 feet long. Henry Pittier 

 gives these measurements for houses he saw on two islands at Nar- 

 gana. The floor is hard-packed earth but slightly elevated above the 

 ground level outside the house (pi. 36). The dirt floor is covered 

 with sand which is swept daily and kept neat and clean. 



The Choco houses are dissimilar in detail to those of the Tule 

 just described. Built on foundation posts, the floor is raised sev- 

 eral feet above the ground level (pi. 36, No. 3). The rough floor is 

 of split cane, and the roof is made of heavily thatched palm leaves 

 resting upon a framework of poles and sticks supported by a row 

 of palm-wood poles driven into the earth. The walls are not filled 

 in with upright reeds, as in the Tule houses. Access is gained by 

 means of a notched pole (pi. 36, No. 3), which is turned over when 

 it is desired to keep the dogs out of the house and also to denote 

 the absence of the family. Mosquito bars are hung on sticks that 

 project through the floor to the ground below. Bark mats are 

 used for bedding; places to sleep are allotted to parents and babies, 

 girls, and boys. 



Hung up wherever a projecting stick or support pole protrudes 

 are baskets, bunches of dried corn, pots, bundles of head rice, bunches 

 of the soft inner bark of the rubber tree, which the Choco use as 

 beds, bows, and arrows, etc. In one corner squatting women keep 

 alive a fire on a hearth of clay, upon which a pile of stones is placed 

 to be used as a stove, while an old woman stirs the food cooking in 



