COMMUNICATIONS. 
141 
as foon as it has reached the height of fix or feven feet, the 
workmen fufpend its progrefs for a week, that it may have time 
to fettle, and become compact ; for which purpofe they water 
it every day^ 
When the walls are finillied they are neatly plaiftered, both 
within and without, with clay or mud, tempered with fand ; for 
the country furniilies no lime.- 
The roofs are formed of branches of the palm tree, intermixed 
with brulliwood ; and are fo conftrufted as at firft to be water- 
proof ; but fuch is the violence of the wind and rain, that the 
end of the fecond year is the utmofl period of their brief du- 
ration. 
Much lefs attention is given to the furniture than is beftowed 
on the ftru£lure of the houfes ; for the catalogue of the utenfils is 
extremely 
* The walls of the greateft part of the houfes are built of a compofition of earth 
and fand, and are often wafhed down by the heavy rains ; but others are formed of 
the more durable materials of ftones and bricks. 
The roofs are compofed of the branches of trees, which are covered With layers 
of earth, and the whole building. is white-walhed with a fpecies of chalk. 
Ben Alli,- 
