232 



EXTRAORDINARY HOUSE. 



a great effect, and must have considerably appalled 

 them. As we were here within arrow-flight of the 

 hanks of this narrow channel, we followed the canoes 

 for about a quarter of a mile into the main stream 

 again, when we observed them landing on the op- 

 posite bank, among a crowd of natives. These stood 

 half coucealed among the bushes, at the mouth of a 

 small creek, and behind them was a most singular 

 looking house, which immediately attracted our at- 

 tention. When arrived within about a third of a 

 mile of it, we examined it with our glasses, and were 

 greatly surprised at its size and structure. It looked 

 just like an immense barn, one gable of which pro- 

 jected towards the river, but the roof stretched so 

 far hack as to leave the other end completely hidden 

 in the woods- Under the projecting gable was a 

 sort of stage or balcony, on which were several 

 people, standing and gazing at us. 



This was evidently some height above the ground, 

 as they were completely exposed to view over the 

 tops of the bushes. The roof was covered by a very 

 thick heavy-looking thatch, along which smoke was 

 oozing at various places. From the balcony, one or 

 two arched door- ways led into the interior, through 

 a wall apparently of bamboo, that was several feet 

 back under the roof, which projected into a peak 

 over the balcony. The end of the house that was 

 visible was far larger than any barn I ever saw. 



The canoes were now re-manned, and pushed off 

 towards us with about fifty men in them. While 



