CHAP. XXXVI.] MY HOUSE AT BESSIR. 359 



generally overhung. At distant intervals were little coves 

 and openings, where small streams came down from the 

 interior ; and in one of these we landed, pulling our boat 

 up on a patch of white sandy beach. Immediately above 

 was a large newly-made plantation of yams and plantains, 

 and a small hut, which the chief said we might have the 

 use of, if it would do for me. It was quite a dwarf's house, 

 just eight feet square, raised on posts so that the floor was 

 four and a half feet above the ground, and the highest part 

 of the ridge only five feet above the floor. As I am six 

 feet and an inch in my stockings, I looked at this with 

 some dismay; but finding that the other houses were 

 much further from water, were dreadfully dirty, and were 

 crowded with people, I at once accepted the little one, and 

 determined to make the best of it. At first I thought of 

 taking out the floor, which would leave it high enough to 

 walk in and out without stooping ; but then there would 

 not be room enough, so I left it just as it was, had it 

 thoroughly cleaned out, and brought up my baggage. The 

 upper story I used for sleeping in, and for a store-room. In 

 the lower part (which was quite open all round) I fixed up 

 a small table, arranged my boxes, put up hanging-shelves, 

 laid a mat on the ground with my wicker-chair upon it, 

 hung up another mat on the windward side, and then 

 found that, by bending double and carefully creeping in, 

 I could sit on my chair with my head just clear of the 



