BANTU NEGROES 



731 



sticks and wattle, and a roof frame made of slender poles or the midribs of 

 palm fronds strengthened with reed basket work. The framework of the 

 roof, which is like a huge reversed funnel, is only lifted into position over 

 the round wall of the house when the latter has been plastered with mud, 

 and is fairly dry. The roof is then thatched with long grass. The verandah 

 of poles supports the outer rim of the roof, the thatch of which projects 

 sufficiently to shade this circular passage of raised clay. Portions of the 

 verandah are even enclosed by partitions, with an outer wall of reeds or 

 grass. Two equal-sized portions of the verandah are usually shut off in 

 this way on either side of the door. Within the partition on the right- 

 hand side is placed the grinding stone that the women use for rubbing 

 down grain into flour. The back half of the circular verandah is usually 

 open at the sides between the interstices of the poles. 



On entering the hut it will be seen that about one-fourth of its area 

 has been partitioned off at the back with sticks and reeds, to make a 

 sleeping place for goats. 

 Fowls also sleep inside 

 the hut in a big basket, 

 which is covered over at 

 night. This basket has 

 usually a long neck, and 

 stands very high. The 

 present writer has seen 

 the neat way in which 

 fowls put themselves to 

 bed. They jump on to 

 the rim of the basket and 

 then dive boldly down 

 through the neck into 

 the wider portion below, 

 where they remain in a 

 warm mass one on top 

 of the other. The floors 

 of these huts are. of 

 course, of clean, dry mud. 

 usually pretty hard owing 

 to the heat of the fires, 

 which burn day and night. 

 There is usually no raised 

 bed for sleeping on. Skins 

 are strewn about the floors 



388. KAVIRONDO MEN (SHOWING ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS IN ( LAl 



for this purpose, usually on the legs) 



