350 DESCRIPTION OF SAVU CHAP. XV 
almost put out of dispute by the manner in which their 
teeth are destroyed ; they are not loosened or drawn out as 
they would be by the too frequent labour of chewing tough 
substances, but melt away and decay as metals in strong 
acids; the stumps always remaining firmly adhering to the 
jaws, just level with the gums. Possibly the ill-effects 
which sugar is believed by us Europeans to have upon the 
teeth may proceed from the same cause, as it is well known 
that refined or loaf-sugar contains in it a large quantity of 
lime. 
To add flavour, I suppose, to the betel and areca, some 
use with it a small quantity of tobacco, adding the nauseous 
smell of that herb to the not less disagreeable look of the 
other, as if they were resolved to make their mouths dis- 
gustful to the sense of smell as well as that of sight. 
They also smoke, rolling up a small quantity of tobacco in 
one end of a palm leaf, about as thick as a quill and six 
inches long; of this not above one inch is filled with tobacco, 
so that the quantity is very small. To make amends for 
this the women especially often swallow the smoke, which 
no doubt increases its effects in no small degree. 
Their houses are all built upon one and the same plan, 
differing only in size according to the rank and riches of 
the proprietors, some being 300 or 400 feet in length, and 
others not 20. They consist of a well-boarded floor, raised 
upon posts three or four feet from the ground; over this is 
raised a roof shelving like ours in Europe, and supported by 
pillars of its own, independent of the floor. The eaves of 
this reach within two feet of the floor, but overhang it by 
as much; this arrangement serves to let in air and light, 
and makes them very cool and agreeable. The space within 
is generally divided into two by a partition, which takes off 
one-third: in front of this partition is a loft, shut up 
close on all sides, raised about six feet from the ground, and 
occupying the centre of the house. There are sometimes 
one or two small rooms on the sides of the house. The use 
of these different apartments we did not learn, we only were 
told that the loft was appropriated to the women. 
