1 68 Coffee Planting. 



as the clay first applied has had time to harden, 

 a further coating should be applied, covering the 

 woodwork to the depth of an inch, both outside 

 and in ; and when this has become perfectly dry, 

 the wall may be finished with a good coat of 

 " chunam " plaster (mortar) from the mason's trowel, 

 which may be applied in such a manner as to give 

 an appearance quite equalling that of brickwork. 

 The thickness of a wall of this kind will finally be 

 about ten inches, or about that of a single brick 

 it will, however, probably be much stronger than a 

 brick wall of the same thickness. Of course, 

 however, the thickness may be increased to any 

 extent' by additional applications of clay or mortar. 

 I have seen bungalows constructed in this 

 manner, still in excellent preservation after having 

 stood for thirty years, and that too in localities 

 abounding with white ants. This is partly ac- 

 counted for by a remarkable provision by which 

 these indefatigable little sappers invariably, when 

 tunnelling through wood-work, leave a sufficient 

 residuum or shell to prevent total collapse ; while 

 they also, it is stated, deposit a secretion as 

 a sort of cement, by which this is materially 

 strengthened ; the object in both cases apparently 

 being to guard against a destruction in which they 

 themselves would be involved. However, even 

 where walls of the above description have, owing 



