516 
STRUCTURE OF THE OUTER FENCE.— THE DOOR-WAY. 
upright and parallel to each other, but so carefully interwoven, or 
connected, that they formed a defence so close and firm, that they 
were impenetrable to a hassagay and, at their lower part, even to a 
musket-ball. They were, both within and without, extremely neat, 
and not the smallest twig projected beyond the surface, which was as 
even as that of a basket. These twigs had been first divested of all 
their leaves, and were most commonly cut from the mohaaka^ a tree 
or shrub which grows in abundance in every part of the Great Plains 
of Litakun. 
This fence from its solidity and strength, might rather be called 
a wall, than a hedge. It is generally bound together at the top by a 
line of twigs running all round within and without, as may be 
observed in the 6th Plate at page 464 ; and when the entrance is 
properly closed, it is a sufficient protection against a surprise from 
either their enemies or wild beasts. It constitutes an excellent 
shelter against violent winds, which, in so open and exposed a situa- 
tion, are not unfrequent ; and which are more easily resisted by a 
circular, than by any other, form. 
The fences of the poorer inhabitants were frequently made of 
other less suitable branches, such as the various kinds of acacia : in 
which case, they took the pains to turn the thorns inwards, and often 
made very neat fences even with these rough materials : yet in my 
walks through the town I observed several of these hedges not more 
even than a faggot, and scarcely five feet high. 
In these fences, there is never more than one door-way or 
opening by which the enclosure can be entered ; and which at night, 
or at other times when no one is at home, is closed by a rude wicker 
door. This opening is adapted only for the admission of a single 
person, and is very judiciously made smaller at bottom than at top, 
in the same proportion which the width of the feet bears to that of 
the shoulders ; thus by leaving as small an opening as conveniently 
possible, the enclosed area is better sheltered from wind. 
The dwelling-house generally stands in the middle of the 
enclosure, which is divided into a front-court and a back-yard. The 
