NATIVES OF BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 455 
is done by constructing apart from the house a huge framework of thin poles 
and bamboo, shaped like a funnel and coming to a sharp apex at the top. 
When the walls of the hut are dry this skeleton roof is hoisted and poised over 
them. Men then ascend and begin to cover the framework with thatch. They 
commence at the bottom, usually with separate bundles of grass which are tied 
on to the bamboo withes. Sometimes the thatching is very neatly executed ; 
at other times a large quantity of grass seems to have been carelessly thrown on 
to it; but the disorder is more apparent than real, the outer surface of the grass 
having been blown about by the winds. The well-thatched roof of a native 
house is singularly rain-proof. 
In larger round houses there are naturally modifications of this style of 
building. There may be one or more poles of considerable height rising up 
from the central part of the hut and assisting to support the roof, the rafters 
of which will be the long, light, but strong midribs of the Raphia palm. 
Attached to the house there is almost always a yard enclosed by a reed fence 
of nearly six feet in height and communicating with the verandah. In this 
yard the women do almost all their cooking. The interior of the hut is usually 
divided into two sides, one called “ the side for sleep,” the other “ the side for 
the fire.” The interior of the huts is very dark, because there are no windows, 
and the low door admits but little light owing the overhanging eaves of the 
roof round the verandah. 
A wood fire is constantly burning inside the hut which gives the rafters 
a black and shiny appearance and causes disagreeable cobwebs of soot to hang 
from the interior of the roof. 
Rectangular houses of course are built in a different style ; the structure 
of the roof of the house forms part of the original framework and grows 
as the house grows in building. There is a little skill in joinery shown in 
putting up these rectangular houses, but it must be regarded as due to the 
teaching of the white man or the Arab. All fastening of poles, however, 
except where foreign influence prevails, is done by lashing with bark-rope. I 
think the case of native building is one of arrested development. It is 
wonderful how smart they are in running up temporary houses. The forest 
provides them with all they want—poles being obtained by cutting down 
saplings and severing the spreading branches ; bark-rope is made by soaking 
the bark in water—when it dries it contracts and therefore binds very tightly, 
moreover the bark lasts undecayed for years. Bamboos which can be split 
or used whole as the case may require are very useful wattles ; grass to thatch 
the roof and reeds with which to make fences or gates are all at hand; while 
the nearest ant-hill will supply material for mudding the walls and making- 
raised seats for benches or beds. 
It was reported by earlier travellers that on the east coast of Lake Nyasa 
villages had been built on piles by the timid A-nyanja people who preferred 
to live out in the lake to avoid the attacks of slave-raiders. I have never 
succeeded in seeing any of these pile dwellings though I am told they are also 
built on Lake Chiuta. When I first saw Lake Nyasa they had all disappeared, 
and I found the inhabitants who dreaded the raiding of Magwangwara or 
Wa-yao lived on small islands or islets where their little beehive houses were 
perched amid the stones. 
As a rule each grown-up individual has a house to him or her self, though 
amongst very poor folk husband and wife may share the same dwelling. But 
a man who has several wives will probably have a house to himself and each 
