78 MOUNTAIN HOUSES. 



squared ; the planks, which form the walls, are made 

 from trees split by wedges, and roughly dressed 

 down with an adze. They are, therefore, both thick 

 and rugged. The roof is commonly thatched with 

 reeds or grass, but sometimes with shingles, and 

 there is generally a projecting piazza, or verandah, 

 carried round the house, just under the roof, which 

 is covered with bamboos split in half, the hollow 

 part being alternately upwards and downwards, their 

 edges overlapping,* so as to form a succession of 

 gutters, to carry off the water from the roof, and 

 prevent its falling against the sides of the house. 



We visited one of these houses under the guidance 

 of Mr. Templeman. It was very long for its height 

 and width. The door was at the side at a little 

 distance from one end, and on entering there was 

 found to be only one long low apartment, occupying 

 the whole length of the house. There was a 

 raised space along the end of the house nearest 

 the door, and the middle and largest part of the 

 house had a slightly raised space on each side, 

 leaving a passage between on the bare ground. 

 These raised spaces were frames of bamboo, covered 

 with mats, and were not more than five or six inches 

 high. The farther end of the apartment was occu- 

 pied by a square raised stove or fireplace built of 

 brick, round which were boards for seats about two 

 inches above the ground. On each side of the stove 



* Just as curved tiles are sometimes used in England for the • 

 roof of a cottage. 



