HOUSES IN FARREE. 27 



the usual circle of closely placed sticks, some five 

 feet high and surmounted by a high conical straw 

 roof, are partial excavations in the soft trachytic 

 stone, so as to leave a back and sides of natural 

 rock. Over this is laid a flat roof, consisting of 

 untrimmed rafters covered by a thick layer of 

 brushwood, upon which is placed a layer of earth 

 some inches in thickness, well stamped down with 

 the feet. A front of wattled sticks, in which the 

 entrance is made, completes the house, and in one 

 such as this was I lodged during my stay in this 

 town. 



The internal arrangements were equally simple. 

 A raised platform of stones and clay, about two 

 feet high, occupied one half of the single apart- 

 ment, and upon one end of this, reaching to the 

 roof, stood a huge butt-like basket, smoothly 

 plastered over inside and out with clay. This was 

 the family granary, in which was preserved the 

 tefF seed, or wheat, from the depredations of the 

 numerous mice that are a thorough pest in Abys- 

 sinia. In a corner below, stood side by side two of 

 the peculiar handmills used in this country, each 

 consisting of a large flat stone of cellular lava, 

 two feet long and one foot broad, raised upon a 

 rude pedestal of stones and mud, about one foot 

 and a half from the ground. The rough surface 

 of this stone sloped gradually down from behind 

 forwards into a basin-like cavity, into which the 

 flour falls as it is ground. A second stone, grasped 



