REWA. 125 



lofty mbures with their pointed roofs, and the barn-like edifices of 

 the chiefs, to the rickety shantees of the kai-sis, and the diminutive 

 yam-houses, perched on four posts, to protect the yams from the 

 depredations of the rats. It is every where intersected by narrow 

 lanes, closely shut in with high reed fences. 



The party visited the most conspicuous houses of the place. The 

 first which they saw was the mbure, situated on the spot where the 

 king's father was murdered ; the mound on which it is built is an 

 artificial one, ten feet high. The mbure is about twelve feet square, 

 and its sides or walls only four feet high ; while its high-pitched roof 

 rises to the height of about thirty feet. The walls and roof of the 

 mbure are constructed of canes about the size of a finger, and each 

 one is wound round with sennit as thick as a cod-line, made from the 

 cocoa-nut husk. At a little distance, the whole house looked as 

 though it was built of braided cord, and presented a singular and 

 curious appearance, creating a favourable idea of the skill as well as 

 labour expended in its construction. 



There are others of small dimensions, of which the annexed wood- 

 cut will give an idea. These are generally used as the depositories 

 of the chiefs or persons of note. 



The next building visited was that of the king's women. This is 

 one hundred and eighty feet in length, twenty -four feet wide, and 

 thirty feet high. Here were a number of women engaged in making 

 mats, tapa, and baskets. They were gay and merry, though busily 

 engaged at their work. 



Another large spirit-house was next visited, in which the moun- 

 taineers congregate ; and on their exit from it they saw a bull near the 

 door, which the natives, in essaying to follow the party, had to en- 

 voi., in. 32 



