248 CL10MENT8. 



[lie lii'a\ier parts ai'o of wood and the lijiiittM' parts of bainhoo, the 

 roof and sides being of nipa thatch, and the Hoor of split hainboo-lath, 

 laid with an interval of 3 or 4 millimeters. Ample ventilation is provided 

 by these intervals in the floor, and by geneions windows whicii are closed 

 at night and during storms bv blinds of i'ainboo cr of nipa thatch on 

 a bamboo frame. The eaves project usually about half a metei'. Direct 

 sunlight rarely penetrates into the house. This structuie consists usually 

 of two looms which are fretpiently built as separate units. The entrance 

 is at the side of the reai- room. A portion of the front room is partitioned 

 off as a closet in which clothing and bedding are kept. Behind the rear 

 room is a small kitchen and a baUilan, a small i-oofless poix-h. where the 

 food is prepared and the water jars are kept. The rooms of such a 

 house are approximately square, the lineal dimensions being ;5^ or 4 

 metei's. The floor is from 1-J to 2i meters off the ground, the entire 

 structure being supported on wooden posts, 15 to 20 centimeters thick, 

 which are set into the ground and i-each to the fj'ame of the roof, passing 

 through the corners of the room from flooi- to roof. The distance from 

 floor to roof is often not more than 2 meters, and sometimes less. 



A small percentage of the houses, usually occupied by newly married 

 couples of the poorer class, are smaller and of lighter construction tlian 

 that described. These consist only of a single room and a kitchen, the 

 frame and supports being entirely of bamboo. There is usually no ceiling 

 and the inside of the roof is begrimed by the smoke of the kitchen fire, 

 chimneys being unknown. From the loof frame is hung a shelf or two, 

 a little higher than one's head, where various articles are put to be out 

 of the way. Strings of garlic, peppers, ears of maize, dried fish, as well 

 as nets or other articles used by the owner in his work, are hung also 

 fiom the roof frame. 



There is usually not much f unriture. l"he bed consists of a nuit spread 

 upon the floor at night and a pillow or two. The mosquito net is almost 

 unknoAvn. There are one or two M'ooden benches, se\eral chests for 

 clothing, and nmnerous baskets of vaiious sliapes and sizes. In the 

 kitchen one or more calans (or wooden fi'anies used for holding pots in 

 cooking) are found, and a small portable fireplace of native pottery, on 

 the uppei- rim of which are three knobs that support the rice pot or the 

 frying pan, the latter being of the sa)nc material as the cahm. A few 

 water jars and a small number of dishes ccunplete the invent<u'y of the 

 liousehobl belongings of the average native of Taytay. 



FOOD. 



1'he chief comi)(jnent of every meal is boiled rice. This may be 

 accompanied by a stew of fish and vegetables, or of vegetables alone, or 

 by a dish of fried fish. Meat is a rarity for the poor inhabitant of 

 Taytay. Such snudi amounts as are eaten consist generally of pork or 

 fowl, (linger, which arows wild in many parts of the Philippines, is 



