Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-13

Fquite so well off here in the Jungle. !
Houses in the city and Jungle, differ as
much In looks and expense as they do in
America In the city and country. After
my return from Bootah | came TO this
place and built me house which | will |
describe to you as we'll as can. BAN
boos serve for posts, stills, sleepers, studs, |
braces, rafters, plates, &C. &c. The clap
boards consist Of leaves, which grow or
feet long and about 2 inches wide. The |
shingles are made Of very coarse tall
grass. The partitions, doors, and win.
dows are of kind of basket-work made
OF the reed. Every thing is withed to-
g'ther by means of ratans, which also
serve for hinges, locks, &c, to doors and
windows. The bamboos are of two kinds,
large and small. The large kind grows
from 4 to inches in diameter, and from
40 to 90 feet in height. The small are
from | l-2 10 inches in diameter, and
nearly as tall as the large kind. The
coolies had to bring most of the timber on
their backs from IL mile 10 miles dis.
lance. Alter the timber was on the ground,
we proceeded to erect the house as fol-
lows the ground was measured OF Is
cubits by 90 including veranda. across
one end, OF 5 cubits. The holes were
then dug for the posts, about l-2 feet
deep. The large bamboos were used for
posts. These being placed in the holes
dug in the ground were fastened upright,
by extending the small bamboos from one
10 the other and whiting them with the
rattan. The plates and raflers were then
put on, all of which consist of the small
bamboos. After this the floor was laid
sufficiently high from the ground that
can conveniently walk under it, standing
erect. The small bamboos were used for
sleepers, being about A inches apart. Then
the large bamboos split into pieces about
inches wide and laid as close together
as they could be. The small bamboos
were used for studs at the sides, which are
usually put from 6 to 10 inches apart
mine, however. were twice that distance.
The leaves We're then put on 10 cover the
sides. After this the partitions and doors
were made; and thus the house was com.
pIeted without the use of nails, or ham
: mer | however found my saw very use
full, as it saved mach time. An inch and
half anger would also have been a gooC
thing, but had none. Window sash anc
, glass are not used in this country, excep
by the English The windows and door
, are all open during the day, and closed a
a night. To build my house. was absen
70 from Mauimain, including the Sabbath
l. II days, and it took 3 days TO 90 an
70 come. | had l01 days works on m
~ house, including bringing timber and ev
), cry thing. The whole expense of tn
Il house was II Rupees or little less tina
re S35. But such house will last only abot
IS 5 years. Cellars, chambers, garrets sc
IN, are unknown in this country. except 3 {
regular built brick houses in Maulmai
I'd Houses built in this manner are vel
nh comfortable for this climate, but The
80 would not stand the Vermont winters We
no well, and they are not very secure agar
yes thieves. But by keeping good dog
loo do not feel the least concern in that respe
and You have, | suppose seen, on the bea
not near Boston, the hay stacks which g
,gs, raised on poles, some distance from t
in ground. If you wish to form some ic
lore of the native houses of this country, j
ing imagine these hay-stacks built in
ave form of house roof in such mann
n that the floor would be as near the roof
ave a common earre! floor. and kind of sh
lere roof at each gable-end, without any W
d In dows or doors, except one large open pl
o be on The side or end Europeans gene
vict- ly and most of the missionaries in NJ;
we main have framed houses, built all of h
cup timber. except the roofs which are CO
} liz ed with the leaves mentioned above
arge Houses here invariably have a vera
zard, attached to them. Our water is q
uses though not so cold, of course, as in y