go Coffee Planting. 



and labour difficulties will subsequently be much 

 diminished. It is not, however, necessary to put 

 up coolie huts of an expensive or even permanent 

 character at this period. The great object is to 

 have well-drained and well-ventilated dwellings, 

 capable of keeping out any amount of wind and 

 rain. 



In localities where the bamboo flourishes, the 

 erection of a house is a simple and expeditious 

 matter. The process would surprise a European 

 artisan, inasmuch as no nails are required, nor 

 indeed anything in the way of material but such as 

 the adjacent jungle affords. Bamboos are seldom 

 used for the principal supports of the house, owing 

 to their liability to destruction by minute borers ; 

 though, indeed, bamboo posts, if cut down near the 

 roots, and previously left to soak some time in water, 

 will be found exceedingly strong and durable. The 

 natives always cut bamboos for building purposes 

 when the moon is on the wane, as they then con- 

 tain less sap, and are, consequently, less liable to 

 early decay. The walls of native houses in bamboo 

 districts are made of bamboo laths some two inches 

 wide, interwoven basket-fashion, the interstices 

 being afterwards plastered up with mud. In every 

 jungle there are different fibres or "jungle ropes " 

 to be found (and which are well known to the 

 natives), with which all fastenings can be effected ; 



