WITHIN THE HUT 317 



within, as also externally, forming a verandah about 

 two feet wide, which is just cleared by the ex- 

 tremities of the eaves. At this stage, with the 

 help of a few kindly neighbours, the roof is hoisted 

 up and placed into position, more poles with forked 

 extremities being disposed around the outside of 

 the narrow mud verandah to afford additional sup- 

 port to the roof by receiving the rim of the cone. 

 The thatching is now carefully laid on, and the 

 small dwelling is ready for occupation. These 

 huts, after one or two heavy falls of rain, during 

 which, it must be confessed, they leak like a 

 basket, become extraordinarily water-tight. After 

 having been occupied some time, the smoke from 

 the fire (there being no chimney) communicates 

 to the roof timbers and inner thatching an appear- 

 ance of having been blackleaded. 



As a rule the man and one of his wives occupy 

 such a hut as I have described, his other wives, 

 if he have any, being each lodged in a similar place 

 of abode. Children whilst very young share the 

 hut which is assigned to their respective mothers, 

 but when they reach an age of three or four years, 

 by which time they are almost, if not quite, as 

 advanced as a European child of seven or eight, 

 they are sent out to reside in a large hut inhabited 

 in common by the boys, and called the " Gwero." 

 Small girls have also a dwelling of their own, but 

 they often occupy the same house as the boys. 



The hut of the African native does not need 

 very much furniture to equip it for immediate use. 

 His principal effects are as follows : A Fumba, or 

 sleeping bag, made of very finely woven matting. 



