MATERIAL CONDITIONS 51 



of wood. The framework of the roof is supported 

 at a height of some 25 to 30 feet from the ground 

 on massive piles of ironwood, and the floor is 

 supported by the same piles at a level some 7 or 

 8 feet below the cross-beams of the roof. The 

 floor consists of cross-beams morticed to the piles, 

 and of very large planks of hard wood laid upon 

 them parallel to the length of the house. The 

 projecting eaves of the roof come down to a level 

 midway between that of the roof- beams and that 

 of the floor, and the interval of some 4 to 5 feet 

 between the eaves and the floor remains open 

 along the whole length of the front of the house 

 {i.e. the side facing the river), save for a low parapet 

 which bounds the floor along its outer edge. This 

 space serves to admit both light and air, and affords 

 an easy view over the river to those sitting in the 

 house. The length of the house is in some cases 

 as much as 400 yards, but the average length is 

 probably about 200 yards. The width of the floor 

 varies from about 30 to 60 feet ; the whole space 

 between roof and floor is divided into two parts 

 by a longitudinal wall of vertical planks, which 

 runs the whole length of the house. This wall lies 

 not quite in the middle line, but a little to the river 

 side of it. Of the two longitudinal divisions of the 

 house, that which adjoins the river is thus some- 

 what narrower than the other ; it remains undivided 

 in its whole length. The other and wider part is 

 divided by transverse walls at intervals of some 25 

 or 30 feet, so as to form a single row of spacious 

 chambers of approximately equal size. Each such 

 chamber is the private apartment of one family ; in 

 it father, mother, daughters, young sons and female 

 slaves, sleep and eat (PI. :^j). Within each chamber 

 are usually several sleeping-places or alcoves more 

 or less completely screened or walled off from the 

 central space. The chamber contains a fireplace. 



