76 
which is from sixty to seventy feet long, twenty to 
twenty-five feet wide, and from twelve to fifteen feet high. 
They, are erected upon wooden piles, extending beyond 
the level of low water; and during high tides, the sea 
rises up to the floor of the houses. A stage or platfonoj 
also on piles, affords access fi-om the shore. The sides 
E^e composed of wooden planks, and the roof is thatched 
with aiapj or marsh flags. A passage about ten feet 
wide runs along the centre of the building throughout 
its length, and on each side are ehambers and store-rooms 
partitioned off with mats. The end nearest the sea ia 
left open on three sidcsj and here the male inhabitants 
arc generally to be found, when at home, making and 
repairing their implements and fishing gear, or lying 
down smoking tobacco. 
Cooking is performed in the inner rooms, each of 
which is prodded with a small fire-place. The floors ai'e 
of rough spars, placed close together, which cannot be 
traversed safely by those unaecustomed to them. Some- 
times as many as twenty men, in addition to the wives 
and famihes of the married portion, occupy a single 
house. The furniture consists of light boxes of paloi* 
leavesj or of a bark which resembles that of the birch- 
tree, very neatly made, and omamcntcd with black and 
red figures and small shells, in which they keep their 
clothes and valuables; — also hunting and fishing gear, 
arms, and implements, earthen pots for cooking or holding 
food, wooden mortars for husking rice and maize, and 
sleeping mats and pillows — the mats being very neatly 
made, and ornamented with figures of bright blaek and 
red» The pillows consist of smooth circular blocks of 
E % 
