350 DESCRIPTION OF SAVU CHAP, xv 



almost put out of dispute by the manner in which their 

 teeth are destroyed ; they are not loosened or drawn out as 

 they would be by the too frequent labour of chewing tough 

 substances, but melt away and decay as metals in strong 

 acids ; the stumps always remaining firmly adhering to the 

 jaws, just level with the gums. Possibly the ill-effects 

 which sugar is believed by us Europeans to have upon the 

 teeth may proceed from the same cause, as it is well known 

 that refined or loaf-sugar contains in it a large quantity of 

 lime. 



To add flavour, I suppose, to the betel and areca, some 

 use with it a small quantity of tobacco, adding the nauseous 

 smell of that herb to the not less disagreeable look of the 

 other, as if they were resolved to make their mouths dis- 

 gustful to the sense of smell as well as that of sight. 

 They also smoke, rolling up a small quantity of tobacco in 

 one end of a palm leaf, about as thick as a quill and six 

 inches long ; of this not above one inch is filled with tobacco, 

 so that the quantity is very small. To make amends for 

 this the women especially often swallow the smoke, which 

 no doubt increases its effects in no small degree. 



Their houses are all built upon one and the same plan, 

 differing only in size according to the rank and riches of 

 the proprietors, some being 300 or 400 feet in length, and 

 others not 20. They consist of a well-boarded floor, raised 

 upon posts three or four feet from the ground ; over this is 

 raised a roof shelving like ours in Europe, and supported by 

 pillars of its own, independent of the floor. The eaves of 

 this reach within two feet of the floor, but overhang it by 

 as much ; this arrangement serves to let in air and light, 

 and makes them very cool and agreeable. The space within 

 is generally divided into two by a partition, which takes off 

 one -third: in front of this partition is a loft, shut up 

 close on all sides, raised about six feet from the ground, and 

 occupying the centre of the house. There are sometimes 

 one or two small rooms on the sides of the house. The use 

 of these different apartments we did not learn, we only were 

 told that the loft was appropriated to the women. 



