248 
THE WORKMEN. 
H. says, they scarcely lay a stick as he means it 
to go ; so that in spite of all his efforts the house 
is very one-sided. It is on a slight slope ; the 
floor touches the ground at the back, and the 
fore floor-posts of the verandah in front are 
raised over three feet. The half of the roof 
sloping back covers the three rooms, and the fore 
half the verandah. The arrangement is exceed- 
ingly handy ; we really live in the verandah, only 
retiring into the more shady rooms when the sun 
is in its strength. I hope I do not mislead you 
by this language ; the thing is only a miserable 
shanty, fit for the last days of a worn-out negro. 
It was not till three days after 1 came that the 
house was habitably finished ; then we dismissed 
the men, unable to bear their presence and the 
ceaseless babel any longer. By night and by 
day twenty-three uncouth mountain -men were 
with us. They worked by fits and starts ; half 
were always sitting preparing mouthfuls of betel 
and siri, and to my unspeakable disgust, and in 
spite of every sign of displeasure on my part, 
they squirted the red juice over the whole walls 
and floor. It was always late at night before they 
ceased talking and wrangling, and some had the 
most dreadful bronchial coughs, which towards 
morning got worse and worse. How thankful 
