216 CURIOUS HOMES AND THEIR TENANTS. 



sist of a squad of wooden soldiers and will expand or 

 close at will so as to form open or close columns. 



One frame or more made in this way, inclosing a 

 circle fifteen or twenty feet across, forms the skele- 



Turcoman's portable dwelling. 



ton of the walls, which are firmly secured in places by 

 bands or ropes made of hair or wool, fastened around 

 the end of each rod. 



From the upper end of these rods, similar rods, 

 bent near the wall end into something less than a 

 right angle, are so disposed that the longer propor- 

 tions slope to the center, and, being tied with ropes, 

 form the roof. Over this is thrown a covering of 

 black felt, having in the center a large hole which 

 answers both fc)r a window and a chimney. 



Large pieces of the same coarse black felt are 

 wrapped around the walls ; and outside these, to keep 



