126 Town and Harbour of Columho. 
shut both iii the hot and cold seasons, while %ve endeavour 
to have them as open as possible, in order to admit the air 
freely. 
Before each house, and connected with it, is a large open 
space roofed in and supported on pillars of wood. It is called 
a viranda, and is intended to afford a shade from the sun, and 
an opportunity of enjoying any refreshing breeze that springs 
up from the sea, without being exposed to the scorching beams 
from above. Here it is customary to see the people walking 
about, or lolling in a chair with their feet supported against 
the railing, which is placed along the pillars, to the height of 
three or four feet. In addition to this refuge from the sultry 
rays, tlie houses are agreeably shaded by a double row’ of thick 
spreading trees, planted on each side of the several streets. 
These take olf from the dazzling and sultry glare reflected by 
the w^alls, which are all plaistered over and white-washed with 
a very fine bright lime made of burnt shells. The colour is 
beautifully white, and may contribute to the coolness of the 
houses, but throws an unsupportable glare in the eyes of the 
passenger along the streets. 
Most of the houses are of the same construction, and consist 
of the hall in the front, with a chamber at each side, and an- 
other room in the back part, equal in length to the other three, 
and called the hacit viranda. This apartment, owing to the 
sloping form of the roofs, is much lower than those in the front. 
Behind the back viranda are one or two ranges of smaller build- 
ings, proportioned to the size of the house to which they are 
attached, and intended for the accommodation of the servants, 
for cellars, and sometimes for sleeping rooms. 
The houses are covered with indented tiles; very indiffer- 
