Interior of a Native Hut. 25 



tains only seven houses. These are erected in a broad open 

 space, and in consequence of the great liumidity of the soil 

 during the wet season, consist of eight or ten poles, from 

 six to eight feet in height, so that a man can easily pass 

 under them. They comprise but one large apartment, into 

 which access is obtained by a neatly-carved ladder of bamboo- 

 reed, which during the night, or when the occupants leave the 

 hut, is usually taken away, so that, without using locks or 

 bolts, it is pretty difficult to get in. The flooring is con- 

 structed of bamboo planks, bound together with Rotang 

 {Calamus Rotang), in such a manner that the air from beneath 

 can circulate freely through, and, in a similar way, the neat 

 basket-work of the hive-shaped structui'e is vaulted. A dense 

 straw thatch serves as well to keej) out the sun's rays as the 

 rain. The internal arrangements are very simple. In the 

 rear is a sort of fii-e-place, a low block of wood hollowed out, 

 and the cavity filled with sand and stones, upon which is 

 placed a variety of utensils of clay, imported from the ad- 

 joining island of Chowry, the only island of the entire Archi- 

 pelago where any industry is carried on. From the beams of 

 the roof are suspended hollowed-out cocoa-nuts, strung toge- 

 ther in pairs, and serving as water jars, as also elegantly 

 plaited baskets and the few possessions of the family, and, 

 lastly, some fr-uits, betel-leaves, and tobacco, as offerings to 

 the Eewees, or evil spirits, in the event of their paying a 

 visit, and having an appetite for such fare. Fm-ther forward, 

 opposite the entrance of the hut, there are stuck on the side 



