164 



AN UNFINISHED HOUSE. 



owner had commenced building during the 

 rains of the former year, and had gone on with 

 the work until the spring of water, near to the 

 place, failed. The house was tiled and spacious; 

 but the wood-work only of the walls was erected. 

 It had been the intention of this person to estab- 

 lish -dfaze?ida here ; but the failure of the spring 

 of water would, probably, deter him from his 

 purpose. The country from Ilha to Tibou, 

 where we halted at noon on the following day, a 

 distance of ten leagues, was now without water. 

 Two parties of travellers, besides our own, had 

 taken up their night's lodging at this unfinished 

 house. The several fires, the groupes around 

 them, some cooking, some eating, and others 

 asleep ; the pack-saddles and trunks strewed 

 about, as they had been taken from the horses' 

 backs, formed a scene worthy of a painter ; all 

 was darkness around, and the wind blew fresh, 

 for the house had no walls, and no obstruction 

 to oppose its entrance, save the upright posts 

 which supported the roof. The light of the fires 

 sometimes flashed upon one or other of the 

 countenances of the travellers, and on these oc- 

 casions alone could I discover their colour, and 

 consequently, in some degree, their rank. I 

 might be in the company of slaves or of white 

 men, for both would have taken up their night's 

 station in the same manner. An old man of co- 

 lour addressed me, asking if I was the English- 



