24 
MISSIONARY LIFE 
CHAPTER YIII. 
THEIR SLEEPING-FIXTURES. 
Nearly every African hut has a rudely-con- 
structed bedstead, only wide enough for one per- 
son to lie in, and is made in the following manner: 
Four poles placed on end constitute the posts; 
poles tied to them with bark make the rails, and 
other poles placed on them support the bedding. 
Branches of trees, or grass, make the mattress, upon 
which are placed two country cloths, one for an 
under and the other for the upper covering; and 
this makes the best beds we saw among the real 
heathen. In this bed the man of the house gener- 
ally sleeps, while his wives, children, and slaves 
sleep on the ground, with only a grass- mat, or 
country cloth, between them and mother earthy 
the covering being also a country cloth, if there 
be any at all ! 
Some houses are furnished with from one to 
two hammocks, in which some of the household 
sleep, swinging above terra firma. 
