368 



THE LAKE REGIONS OF CENTRAL AFEICA. 



in the sun. It has no projecting eaves, and it is as- 

 cended from the inside by the primitive ladder, the 

 inclined trunk of a tree, with steps formed by the 

 stumps of lopped boughs, acting rings. The roof, 

 during the rains, is a small plot of bright green grass : 

 I often regretted not having brought with me a little 

 store of mustard and cress. In each external side of 

 the square, one or two door- ways are pierced ; they 

 are large enough to admit a cow, and though public 

 they often pass through private domiciles. They are 

 jealously closed at sunset, after which hour not a villa- 

 ger dares to stir from his home till morning. The outer 

 doors are sometimes solid planks, more often they are 

 three or four heavy beams suspended to a cross-bar 

 passing through their tops. When the way is to be 

 opened they are raised from below and are kept up by 

 being planted in a forked tree- trunk inside the palisade : 

 they are let clown when the entrance is to be closed, 

 and are barred across with strong poles. 



The tenements are divided from one another by party- 

 walls of the same material as the exterior. Each 

 house has, usually, two rooms, a " but " and a 16 ben," 

 which vary in length from 20 to 50 feet, and in depth 

 from 12 to 15 : they are partitioned by a screen of corn- 

 canes supported by stakes, with a small passage left 

 open for light. The "but," used as parlour, kitchen, and 

 dormitory, opens upon the common central square ; the 

 " ben " receives a glimmer from the doors and chinks, 

 which have not yet suggested the idea of windows : it 

 serves for a sleeping and a store room ; it is a favourite 

 place with hens and pigeons that aspire to be mothers, 

 and the lambs and kids in early infancy are allowed to 

 pass the night there. The inner walls are smeared with 

 mud : lime is not procurable in Eastern Africa, and the 



