28 
relative situations. Politicians and statesmen may 
employ their sophistry to justify in the one case what 
they condemn in the other; but the principles which 
lead to such fatal results amongst a tribe of savages, 
should find no advocate in nations professing to be 
more enlightened. 
The towns are for the most part built on com¬ 
manding eminences, though some stand in retired 
situations in the woods. They are commonly de¬ 
fended by two rows of strong palisades, strengthened 
by large posts of bamboo, placed at the distance of 
five feet from each other, and sunk a considerable 
depth into the ground. The entrance is formed by 
the two ends of the circle or square, extending be¬ 
yond each other three or four yards, leaving a narrow 
lane or passage between. Within this fence is a 
parapet of earth four feet in height; and on the 
outside it is fortified by a ditch ten feet in breadth, 
and six in depth. A guard of ten or twenty men is 
constantly kept near the entrance, and, generally, 
spies are appointed in certain situations, to give 
notice of the approach of an enemy. 
The houses have no upper chambers or garrets, 
nor cellars underneath; they consist of one floor 
only. The roofs are made shelving, and are covered 
with the leaves of rates, bamboo, or the raven palm ; 
the outside walls are generally constructed of two- 
inch planks, and the inner partitions of a kind of 
matting, made of the filaments of the raven leaf, 
joined exceedingly neat and strong; the hearth is 
