384 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
undertaking, and in a few weeks came over himself, in 
order to encourage and stimulate the parties engaged 
in the work. 
Fa-re is the term for house in most of the islands, 
and an account of the erection of those we occupied here 
will convey a general idea of their plan of building. 
The timber being prepared, they planted the square posts 
which support the ridge-pole about three feet deep. The 
piece forming the ridge was nearly triangular, flat under¬ 
neath, but raised along the centre on the upper side, and 
about nine inches wide; the joints were accurately fitted, 
and square mortises were made, to receive the tenons 
formed on the top of the posts. As soon as these were 
firmly secured, it w^as raised by ropes, and fixed in its 
proper place. The side-posts were next planted, about 
three or four feet apai c; these were square, and nearly 
nine inches wide. In the top of each post, a groove, about 
six inches deep and an inch and a half wide, was cut; 
in this was fixed a strong board, eight or nine inches 
broad, bevelled on the upper edge, forming a kind of 
wall-plate along the side of the house. The rafters, 
which they call aho, were put on next; they are usually 
straight branches of the purau, hibiscus tileaceus, 
an exceedingly useful tree, growing luxuriantly in every 
part of the islands. The poles used for rafters are about 
four inches in diameter at the largest end. As soon 
as they are cut, the bark is stripped oif, and used in 
the manufacture of cordage, lines, &c. The rafters are 
then deposited in a stream of water for a number of 
days, in order to extract the juices with w4iich they are 
impregnated, and which, the natives suppose, attract a 
number of insects, that soon destroy them. When taken 
out, the poles are dried, and considered fit for use. The 
