124 



fastened, or rather sewed, by a thread-like split of 

 bamboo, or the flexible stem of flagellaria indica. 

 The reeds to which the cane leaves are sewed are then 

 laid upon the rafters, beginning at the eaves, each 

 successive layer overlapping the other more or less as 

 the thatch, tibitibi, is wanted to be thick or not. 

 The site on which the house is built is raised above 

 the level of the ground into a mound. These mounds 

 vary in height from 1 to G feet, and their sides are 

 frequently pitched with variously coloured pebbles 

 from the rivers, to prevent the earth being carried 

 away by heavy rains, and for ornament. After the 

 house is finished, the floor is thickly covered with 

 dry grass, fern leaves, &c, and then carpeted with 

 mats. No nails are used in the construction of the 

 houses, the different parts being securely fastened 

 together with sinnet or the stems of strong climbers. 

 A large quantity of sinnet is used to ornament the 

 beams, posts, &c, and an adept, skilled in decorating 

 and arranging designs and patterns, is much esteemed. 

 In the V-shaped angle, formed by the ends of the 

 rafters projecting beyond the ridge, as before-men- 

 tioned, the trunk of a long tree-fern is laid, with its 

 ends projecting several feet beyond the ends of the 

 roof. The projecting ends of the tree-fern are orna- 

 mented with shells, and sometimes golden coloured 

 cowrie shells are suspended from them by a fastening 

 of sinnet, and allowed to dangle in the air. 



The houses of the common people are neither so 

 large, so substantially built, nor so highly ornamented 

 as those of the chiefs; but even among the poorest 

 people there is a certain amount of pride in having 

 their bouses comfortable, and ornamented to the best 

 of their abilities. The character of those who do not 



