In Afric’s Forest and Jungle 
for storage. Underneath the roof and on top of 
the ceiling, they store such products of the farm 
as need curing before using. This ceiling is 
made of palm poles covered with grass mats 
which in turn are covered with a thick coating of 
earth. For this reason a fire often sweeps away 
the roofs of the dwellings of the people without 
destroying their homes . 1 After a big fire the 
people go out to the farms, get a supply of poles, 
grass, reeds and vines, and in a few days every¬ 
thing is as before. They frequently lose what 
was stored on the ceilings under the roofs. When 
the only entrance to the compound is closed, 
there is no way of entering it except over the 
roof, and the court of the compound or the en¬ 
closed central space is therefore very secure 
against thieves and beasts of prey prowling 
about at night. It is for this reason little better 
than a barnyard. A pigeon cote frequently 
stands in the centre, while sheep, goats, chick¬ 
ens, pigs and dogs run about everywhere, trying 
the patience of the women who are cooking and 
attending to other household duties. The horses 
are tied to posts placed in convenient places. 
Cows have a compound for their special use and 
1 In February, 1897, both Ebaddan and Awyaw, two large cities of Yoruba, 
were burned over without interfering with business. 
26 
