80 NATIVE DWELLINGS. 



vary much in material, size, and form. The re- 

 sidence of the rajah (which is the largest build- 

 ing in the settlement, and the most characteristic 

 of native architecture,) is constructed with 

 wood, and thatched with the leaves of the Screw- 

 pine. Its only two habitable apartments are 

 raised by posts to the height of eight feet above 

 the ground, and are surrounded by a covered 

 balcony, to which we ascend by a broad ladder. 

 The outer or largest apartment is open on three 

 sides, to admit the breeze, or may be closed, at 

 will, by blinds composed of light mats ; its floor 

 is formed of split bamboos, arranged as an open 

 or trellis-work, exceedingly cool and neat in 

 appearance, as well as strong and durable, but 

 which gives, to the unaccustomed tread of the 

 stranger, a sensation of elasticity and frailty, by 

 no means agreeable or easily overcome. The 

 ground-floor is enclosed with boards, and used 

 only as a store-room. The inferior huts are 

 mostly erected in the same elevated manner as 

 the royal-lodge, though but few have their apart- 

 ments raised to a greater height than four feet 

 above the ground. Some of them are so densely 

 covered with leaves as to be impervious to light 

 or air, except at the entrance ; whilst others 

 are simply wattled with bamboo. They have 

 each but two apartments, which, as they con- 



