THE SURVEY CONTINUED 



111 



In the midst of this space rises a very steep peak of ironstone 

 or laterite which, for about 50 ft., mounts by huge steps or 

 terraces straight as the wall of a house. In the first terrace 





A KEREI-KERRI TOWN 



a series of deep narrow wells has been dug. These, which 

 completely encircle the peak at a distance of ten yards or so 

 from one another, are only about 2 to 4 ft. across. Unless 

 they are very deep, the water in them must be above the 

 level of the villages on the plateau below. From the top of 

 the peak a most extraordinary sight presents itself. One 

 looks down on to the plateau and sees clusters of hamlets, 

 each surrounded by a little wall of matting. Among them, 

 and particularly along the edge of the cliff, are curious mud 

 granaries, somewhat the shape of an elongated beehive 



