THE BUILDINGS 



of coral rock, with flat roofs, consisting of two storeys 

 of rooms with a balcony running outside on a level 

 with the upper storey, to which access is obtained by 

 means of a broad wooden staircase. The roads in 

 the European quarter are also made of crushed coral 

 rock and sea-shells dutifully pounded into a hard 

 smooth surface by the convicts from the gaol. The 

 final appearance of the roads resembles chalk, which, 

 combined with the sea, the sand and the white-washed 

 houses, causes a terrible glare most trying to the eyes, 

 which the green of a few palm trees is quite unable 

 to mitigate. The native huts are composed of a 

 single room with walls and roof of makuti (palm fibre 

 interwoven with reeds and branches). The doors are 

 low and narrow, and windows conspicuous by their 

 absence. This method of construction renders the 

 interior very dark, but cool ; in this way the injurious 

 effects on the eyes of the blinding glare outside are 

 successfully counteracted, and the ceaseless and un- 

 welcome attentions of swarms of flies are discouraged. 

 The interior is as simple as the exterior is unpreten- 

 tious. A small open fireplace in one corner, and a 

 bed or couch, made by stretching a piece of grass 

 matting on a low wooden framework, are the most 

 notable objects within; sometimes a few rugs of sheep 

 or goat skin cover the mud floor, while in another 

 corner may be found a few simple cooking utensils 

 and receptacles for holding water or ghee. People 

 who have not much knowledge of the tropics may 

 consider these huts deplorably primitive and barbaric. 

 But they are, as a matter of fact, the outcome of long 

 experience and are eminently suited to the trying 

 climatic conditions that prevail along the coast. If 

 circumstances compelled me to live in those regions, 



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