334 TEAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



other's country-houses. There is no such thing as a 

 single house containing a number of rooms. Each 

 room is separate, standing ten or fifteen yards from 

 its neighbour ; the walls are composed of wattle-and- 

 daub, the thatch of Indian corn. There is gener- 

 ally a door swung upon a hinge of primitive construc- 

 tion, but seldom any other aperture for the admission 

 of light. The most characteristic feature of these 

 habitations is the chimney. It is a huge semicircular 

 projection about four feet above the ground, occupy- 

 ing about nearly half the room ; it consequently 

 possesses the immense advantage of never smoking 

 a most unusual peculiarity for a savage habitation, 

 where the smoke is generally allowed to discover its 

 own exit, and revenges itself on the eyes of those 

 who have not provided one for it. The lower border 

 of the chimney is generally ornamented with rude 

 painting, while it is carried up through the roof in a 

 circular form, and thatched or boarded over at the 

 top. The furniture sometimes consists of a low 

 wooden stretcher ; more frequently the sleeping-place 

 is indicated by a low bank of earth raised a few 

 inches above the floor. Immediately 011 our arrival, 

 numerous coverlets and quilts of soft luxurious tex- 

 ture, and downy cushions, were brought in and spread 

 upon the floor. Nothing could be more acceptable 

 than the repose which is thus afforded to the tired 

 traveller immediately on his arrival at his journey's 

 end. Here he stretches his weary limbs, and watches 



