IN WESTERN AFRICA. 
13 
CHAPTER III. 
HOUSES — HOW FURNISHED. 
Their houses are mere mud-huts, with ground 
floors, wattled walls, — plastered with mud both 
outside and inside, — and thatched roofs. Some are 
square, others are circular, and hence, to make the 
representation referred to in the preceding chapter 
correct, there should be some ricks of grain as 
well as stacks. They have no fire-places or chim- 
neys in their houses, though they often have fire 
in them during the night season, as then the 
ground is very damp; and the natives are fond of 
sleeping near the fire. The fire is placed on 
the ground, and the smoke is left to find its way 
out as best it can, generally having little difficul- 
ty, however, in making its escape, because around 
the eaves of the roof, if nowhere else, there is 
always considerable open space. 
They have one or more door and window places 
in their houses, ordinarily — usually, however, with- 
out windows or doors in them ; but generally they 
