april— june, 1857.] over the Annamullaij Mountai?is. 99 



slicks tied together with some of the fibrous barks which seem al- 

 ways to be at hand. 



The roof is of leaves, teak leaves being preferred when they can 

 be had. These are laid on like tiles, and as it appears to me they 

 only stay there because their friends the Kaders wish it. It is true 

 that in these dense forests the wind is little felt ; but if an Engi- 

 neer staked his credit upon such a roof, I am perfectly certain that 

 neither his person nor his character would have a square inch to 

 shelter under. The thickness of the roof and walls could not be 

 one quarter of an inch, and the whole material of a house would not 

 be considered a load for the feeblest old woman who picks up sticks 

 to boil her kettle with. 



I lived in huts of this kind with my friend Mr. Michael when we 

 were examining the forests, and spent many days in them during 

 the S. "W. monsoon when there was constant rain. I will not say 

 that these dwellings were altogether water-tight ; but the roof 

 being within reach as we lay upon our beds, we could always with 

 the point of our fingers slip the leaves that were out of place into 

 their right position, and stop the leaks that troubled us. 



The furniture of these little houses consisted of a bed-stead, and 

 if required, a table. Both were made by sticking stakes into the 

 ground and tying sticks across, so that a plank or mat might rest 

 upon them ; but as planks and mats were not always at hand, the 

 surface of the table or bedstead was formed from a thick bamboo. 

 The Kader holding it with one end resting on the ground, slash- 

 ed round each joint, driving his bill-hook lengthwise into the bam- 

 boo. When this had been done round every knot and joint, a cut 

 down one side of the bamboo laid it open, and it flattened out and 

 formed a strong and elastic mat (if it may be so called,) admirably 

 adapted to support the bedding. Each of these was about 18 inches 

 broad, and two were more than sufficient for a single bed, where 

 such sleep was to be had as we found in our Annamullay wanderin'gs. 



One of the characteristics of the Kader was always said to be 

 his love of truth and so we found it on an acquaintance ; although 

 on one occasion our faith in it was somewhat shaken ; when seek- 



