AFRICA. 89 
turn, the mother-in-law invited me to accom- 
pany them back to the houfe and dine with 
the two families. I accepted the invitation, 
without fliowing either refentment or difplea- 
fure, and follov/ed the jovial group, puzzled 
to guefs in what manner the feaft would be 
conduded, and what part I ihould myfelf have 
to aft in this folemn banquet. 
The houfe confifted of a fmgle room, about 
twenty feet long, by nine or ten wide. Its 
walls, conftrudted fimply of earth, every where 
abounded with cracks and flaws. It refembled 
a barnj having for a window a fingle aperture 
only, flopped with the decayed head of an old 
cafk. Through the numerous crevices of the 
damaged roof, you might eafily fee what fort 
of weather it was, without quitting your place; 
and, whenever it rained, thefe crevices, nume- 
rous as the holes in the fpout of a waterings 
pot, were fure to drench both the room and 
its inhabitants. The fire was made in a corner 
by the fide of the door; chimney indeed there 
was none ; and the fmoke had accordingly to 
choofe whether it would make its exit through 
the roof, the window, the cracked walls, or the 
door. In the corner oppofite to the door was 
heaped 
