Ixxiv ITINERAKY. 



greater exposure to driving wind and rain tends also in the same 

 direction. 



As a variation from the usual type of houses with conical roof, there 

 were seen occasional instances of horizontal tops, and there were also 

 subsidiary houses that were thatched to the ground, though these were 

 usually found as temporary structures in good hunting districts or 

 by provision-fields, where they would be only occasionally occupied. 

 The thatch in such positions was always of a rougher character, 

 both in its material and construction, clearly indicating its temporary 

 purpose. 



As furniture, instead of the elaborately carved benches met with in 

 the larger, thriving settlements, and which have been cut from a solid 

 block of wood, and finished ofl' at the ends with the representation of 

 the head of an animal, such as the tortoise, ant-eater, or armadillo, 

 those in these houses were mostly of a very simple tjipe, being merely a 

 roughly cut piece of wood, or a smooth root-stump, with three prongs 

 as legs. Both are equally suitable in raising the body above the 

 ground, and thus preventing the attacks of chigoes on the more 

 sensitive parts, though there are no lower pieces for the feet as in the 

 better constructed articles. They are chiefly used by the women 

 during their various duties, the men usually sitting in their hammocks 

 during their lighter occupations, such as making and trimming bows, 

 ai'rows, and other articles. 



The baking-slabs for the preparation of cassava bread, farine, and 

 parched corn may be a thick plate of sandstone, or a concave structvire 

 of white clay built up on large flat stones, the spaces between being 

 closed by smaller stones and clay. They are often quite large, about 

 two feet or more in diameter. Very common objects also are the fish- 

 traps and hand-nets used in catching the small fishes of these upper 

 regions. The smaller streams or nearly dried out channels of the 

 larger rivers are dammed back with stones, sticks, bushes, and grass 

 for the purpose ; and the result is more easily attained when bruised 

 bushes, possessing narcotic properties, are thrown into the water, the 

 partially drugged fishes coming to the surface where they are secured 

 with the hand-net. In the waters of the lowland country, where fish 

 is very abundant, there are many methods in use for catching large 

 numbers by means of pounded or bruised plants of the same nature. 



As already indicated by the supplies at the various villages, the 

 provisions commonly grown are cassava, yam, sweet potato, maize, 

 banana, plantain, pumpkin, papaw peppers, and sugar-cane, individual 

 kinds being more or less prevalent in certain localities. Maize is grown 

 in very large quantities in some parts, and is stored in the cob in the 

 upper part of the houses, where it is protected from insect attack 

 by the constant atmosphere of smoke. The parched corn is pounded 

 or ground, and is either boiled and eaten, or is made into drinks, alone 

 or mixed with sweet potato or yam. Sometimes one sees pine-apples 

 (not the wild one which is so common in some places), tannias 

 ( Caladium), and melons ; and on one occasion I was veiy surprised 

 to flnd that ground-nuts {Arachis) were being grown. 



In travelling over these great stretches of country, from the lowlands 

 upwards one cannot but be struck by their adaptability for general 



