BANTU XEGROES 



731 



sticks and wattle, and a roof frame made of slender poles or the midribs of 

 palm fronds strengthened with reed hasketwork. The framework of the 

 roof, which is like a hnge reversed funnel, is onlv lifted into position over 

 the ronnd wall of the house when the latter has been plastered with mnd, 

 and is fairly dry. The roof is then thatched with long grass. The verandah 

 of poles supports the outer rim of the roof, the thatch of which projects 

 sufficiently to shade this circular passage of raised clay. Portions of the 

 verandah are even enclosed by partitions, with an outer wall of reeds (ir 

 grass. Two ecjual-sized portions of the verandah are usually shut off in 

 this way on either side of the door. V<'ithin the partition on the right- 

 hand side is placed the grinding stone that the women use for rulibing 

 down grain into flour. The back half of the circular verandah is usually 

 op)en at the sides lietween the interstices of tlie poles. 



On entering the hut it will lie seen that about one-fourth of its area 

 has been partitioned off at the back with sticks and reeds, to make a 

 sleeping ]^>lace for goats. 

 Fowls also sleep inside 

 the lurt in a big basket, 

 which is covered over at 

 night. This basket has 

 usually a long neck, and 

 stands very high. The 

 present writer has seen 

 the neat way in which 

 fowls put themselves to 

 bed. They jump on to 

 the rim of the liasket and 

 then dive boldly down 

 through the neck' into 

 tire wider portion lielow, 

 where they remain in a 

 warm mass (_ine on to)i 

 of the other. The floors 

 of these hirts are, ot 

 cour>e. of clean, dry mud. 

 usually pretty liard owing 

 to tlie heat of the flres. 

 which burn day and night. 

 There is usually no raised 

 bed for slee})ing on. Skins 

 are strewn about the floors 

 lor this purpose, u.-ually 



38S. KAVlltoXDO ME-\ IMioWl-XC OIINAJl K-NT.U. 1 lESlu.N'S I.\ CI.Ay 

 0-\ THE LEi:s) 



