HANDICRAFTS 207 



topmost cross-pole. The framework of the roof is 

 then completed by laying stout roof-ties across the 

 crowns of the double row of columns of the middle 

 line, and lashing their extremities to stout purlins 

 (longitudinal beams for the support of the rafters in 

 the middle of their length), and by laying the ridge- 

 timber upon a line of perpendicular struts. The 

 ridge-timber and purlins, though less heavy than 

 the roof-plates, consist also of stout squared timbers, 

 spliced to form beams continuous throughout the 

 whole length of the house. The rafters are laid at 

 an angle of about forty degrees and at intervals of 

 eighteen inches ; they are lashed to the ridge-timber 

 and to the purlins, and lipped on to the roof-plates, 

 beyond which they project about four feet to form an 

 eave. Strong flat strips or laths are laid along the 

 rafters parallel to the length of the house at in- 

 tervals of about sixteen inches. On these are laid 

 the shingles or slats of iron-wood in regular rows, 

 in just the way in which roof tiles are laid in this 

 country. Each slat is a slab about i x 30 x 1 2 inches, 

 and is lashed by a strip of rattan, which pierces its 

 upper end, to one of the laths. The floor is com- 

 pleted by laying longitudinal joists of stout poles 

 across the main floor-ties ; the poles are notched to 

 grip the ties. Upon these joists, transversely to 

 them, are laid a number of flat strips which immedi- 

 ately support the floor planks ; these are kept in 

 place by their own weight. 



In a well-built house these planks are between 

 thirty and forty feet in length, or even more, two to 

 three feet in breadth, and three to four inches thick. 

 They are made from tough strong timber, but usually 

 not from the iron-wood trees. They are moved 

 from house to house, and some of those in use are 

 probably hundreds of years old. A single tree is 

 generally made to yield two such planks. After 

 being felled it is split into halves longitudinally in 



