HOUSE-BUILDING. 
171 
term for house in most of the islands. The first 
abodes we occupied were native buildings, and an 
account of the erection of those prepared for us at 
Afareaitu, will convey a general idea of their plan 
and architecture. 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 underneath, 
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 
tenons formed on the top of the posts. As soon 
as these were firmly secured, it was raised by ropes, 
and fixed in its place. The side-posts were next 
planted, about three or four feet apart; 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 , 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 off, 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 which they are impregnated, and which, the 
natives suppose, attract insects, that soon destroy 
them. When taken out, the poles are dried, and 
considered fit for use. The wood is remarkably 
light, its growth is rapid, and though the old parts 
of the tree are exceedingly tough, the young 
