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exact description which will suit every district, but 
certain features of house construction are more or 
less common to all, though the house of the poorer 
peasant sometimes can only boast of a single 
room. These more or less persistent features are 
a verandah — either open or closed in — in front of 
the house, a main room, which may, or may not, 
be subdivided, and a kitchen, generally at the back. 
Young girls approaching marriageable age often 
sleep in an “ attic ” made by stretching a flooring 
over the low rafters. Windows are small and are 
fitted with wooden shutters, often hinged from 
above. 
The upright timberings of the house are of hard 
wood as are often the cross-timberings which are 
exposed to the weather, while those which are pro- 
tected by the thatch and walling are frequently of 
softer material. 
The house walls may be of plaited cane or 
bamboo, of sheet bamboo, of wood, of tree-bark or 
of thatch, according to the fancy and resources of 
the owner and the part of the country in which he 
lives. 
The thatch of the house is of sago palm leaves 
or, near the coast, of those of the nipah palm, though 
leaves of other kinds are used in places. 
A short ladder leads to the entrance of the 
house and there may also be a ladder and door in 
connexion with the kitchen. If the house boasts 
of a platform at the top of the steps, and in front 
of the main door, a water-jar will usually be found 
there, so that those who enter may wash their feet 
before doing so. If the house has no platform the 
water-jar will be found at the bottom of the steps. 
The verandah is the common sitting and loung- 
ing room of the house. Here male guests are 
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