122 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 



part of the erection is a cylindrical framework composed 

 of tall stakes, or the rough trunks of young trees, inter- 

 woven with parallel and concentric rings of flexible twigs 

 and withies, which are coated inside and outside with 

 puddle of red or grey clay. In some a second circle of wall 

 is built round the inner 'cylinder, thus forming one house 

 within the other. The roof, subsequently added, is of 

 sticks and wattles, and the weight rests chiefly upon a 

 central tree. It has eaves-like projections, forming a 

 narrow verandah, edged with horizontal bars which 

 rest upon forked uprights. Over the sticks interwoven 

 with the frame, thick grass or palm-fronds are thrown, 

 and the whole is covered with a coat of thatch tied on 

 with strips of tree bark. During the first few minutes 

 of heavy rain, this roofing, shrunk by the parching suns, 

 admits water enough to patch the interior with mud. 

 The furniture of the cottages is like that of the Waza- 

 ramo ; and the few square feet which compose the area 

 are divided by screens of wattle into dark pigeon-holes, 

 used as stores, kitchen, and sleeping-rooms. A thick 

 field of high grass is allowed to grow in the neighbour- 

 hood of each village, to baffle pursuers in case of need ; 

 and some cottages are provided with double doorways 

 for easier flight. In the middle of the settlement there is 

 usually a tall tree, under which the men lounge upon 

 cots scarcely large enough for an English child ; and 

 where the slaves, wrangling and laughing, husk their 

 holcus in huge wooden mortars. These villages can 

 scarcely be called permanent : even the death of a chief 

 causes them to be abandoned, and in a few months 

 long grass waves over the circlets of charred stakes and 

 straw. 



The only sub-tribe of the Wak'hutu which deserves 

 notice is the Waziraha, who inhabit the low grounds 



