HOUSE-BUILDING. 
173 
o the ridge. The thatchers now take a reed of 
leaves, and fasten it to the lower ends of the 
rafters at the left extremity of the roof, and, placing 
another reed about an inch above it, pierce the 
leaves with a long wooden needle, and sew it to 
the lines fixed on the outer side of the rafters, and 
in the space between them : when six or eight reeds 
are thus fixed, they pass the cord with which they 
are sewn two or three times round each of the three 
rafters over which the reed extends. Placing 
every successive reed about an inch above the last, 
they proceed until they reach the ridge. The 
workmen now descend, and carry up another 
course of thatch, in the same way inserting the 
ends of the reeds of the fresh course into the bent 
part of the leaves on the former. It is singular to 
see a number of men working underneath the 
rafters, in thatching a house. 
When the roof is finished, the points only of the 
long palm-leaves are seen hanging on the outside; 
and the appearance within, from the shining brown 
colour of the leaves bent over the reeds, and the 
whiteness of the rafters, is exceedingly neat and 
ingenious. The inside of the rafters of the chiefs’ 
houses, or public buildings, is frequently ornament¬ 
ed with braided cords of various colours, or finely- 
fringed white and chequered matting. These are 
bound or wrapped round the rafters, and the extre¬ 
mities sometimes hanging down twelve or thirteen 
inches, give to their roof or ceiling a light and 
elegant appearance. Most of the natives are able 
to thatch a house, but covering in the ridge is more 
difficult, and is only understood by those who have 
been regularly trained for the work. A quantity 
of large cocoa-nut or fern leaves is first laid on 
the upper part of the thatch, and afterwards a 
