TROPICAL NATURE 



Palembang, in Sumatra, there is a complete street of floating 

 houses supported on rafts formed of huge bundles of bamboos. 

 Bridges across streams or to carry footpaths along the face of 

 precipices are constructed by the Dyaks of Borneo wholly of 

 bamboos, and some of these are very ingeniously hung from 

 overhanging trees by diagonal rods of bamboo, so as to form 

 true suspension bridges. The flooring of Malay houses is 

 almost always of bamboo, but is constructed in a variety of 

 ways. Generally large bamboos are used, split lengthways 

 twice and the pieces tied down with rattan. This forms a 

 grated floor, slightly elastic, and very pleasant to the bare- 

 footed natives. A superior floor is sometimes formed of slabs, 

 which are made from very stout bamboos cut into lengths of 

 about three or four feet and split down one side. The joints 

 are then deeply and closely notched all round with a sharp 

 chopping-knif e, so that the piece can be unrolled as it were 

 and pressed flat, when it forms a hard board with a natural 

 surface, which, with a little wear, becomes beautifully smooth 

 and polished. Blinds, screens, and mats are formed of bam- 

 boos in a variety of ways, sometimes of thin kinds crushed 

 flat and plaited, but more frequently of narrow strips con- 

 nected together with cords of bamboo-bark or rattan. Strips 

 of bamboo supported on cross-pieces form an excellent bed, 

 which from its elasticity supplies the purpose of a mattress as 

 well, and only requires a mat laid over it to insure a comfort- 

 able night's repose. Every kind of basket, too, is made of 

 bamboo, from the coarsest heavy kinds to such as are fine and 

 ornamental. In such countries as Lombock and Macassar, 

 where the land is much cultivated and timber scarce, entire 

 houses are built of bamboo, posts, walls, floors, and roofs all 

 being constructed of this one material; and perhaps in no 

 other way can so elegant and well-finished a house be built so 

 quickly and so cheaply. Almost every kind of furniture is 

 also made of the same material, excellent bamboo chairs, sofas, 

 and bedsteads being made in the Moluccas, which, for appear- 

 ance, combined with cheapness, are probably unsurpassed in 

 the world. A chair costs sixpence, and a sofa two shillings. 



Among simpler uses bamboos are admirably adapted for 

 water-vessels. Some of the lighter sorts are cut into lengths 

 of Wbout five feet, a small hole being knocked through the 



