292 
AFRICAN HUTS. 
gourds, in shape like a cucumber, but straight, with 
a knob at the end ; they are slit in two, and thus 
form two spoons, the concave head of the gourd 
serving as the bowl, the other part as the handle. 
These calabashes, some of which are pretty, are 
hung up within the huts as ornaments. On peeping 
into these huts* nothing is seen but these said cala- 
bashes, except the strings or nets by which they are 
suspended on the sides of the huts. As you enter 
there is always a partition-wall on your right hand, 
and a round entrance at the further end of the hut 
to this part, partitioned off. This space, so divided 
off, is the sleeping-place, where there is a raised 
bench of mud, or a bedstead made of cane or 
wickers. A few utensils for culture, an axe and a 
hoe, may be mentioned, all made by native black- 
smiths, of the rudest description. Iron is found in 
the native rocks of Soudan, and is not imported. 
The greatest skill of the African blacksmith is, 
alas ! shown in forging the manacles for slaves. I 
must mention that many of the huts have walls of 
clay, and roofs only of thatch or matting. The 
grain-stacks are also raised a foot or two from the 
ground, on stakes, to prevent the ghaseb getting wet 
during the rainy season. Thus it is that these 
children of Africa live a life of simplicity little 
above pure savages, and I may add, a life of com- 
parative idleness, and perhaps happiness, in their 
point of view. 
Yesterday our Kashalla made a move to say his 
