The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09

The houses, as in all these mountain vii
lagos, were very different from those OF the
PliIins. In the latter, the houses Of the
peasantry are composed almost entirely OF
bamboo, the poles and posts Of the stouter
pieces Of that plant, and the walls generally
OF split bamboo woven into mats, the roof
being matched with large mats OF atop, or
the leaves Of the Nipah palm. The noun
tain houses. on the contrary, are built OF
plank? The posts and beams are made Of
casuarina, roughly squared; the planks.
which form the walls are made from trees
split by wedges, and roughly dressed down
with an adze. They are, therefore, both
thick and rugged. The roof is commonly
thatchod with reeds or grass, but sometimes
with shingles. and there is generally pro-
jecting piazza, or verandah, carried round
the house, just under the roof, which is COW
cred with banlboos split in hall; the hollow
part being alternately upwards and down.
wards, their edges overlapping, so as to form
a succession OF cutters, to carry OFF the water
from the roof, and prevent its falling against
the sides of the house. We visited one Of
these houses, under the guidance of MIR.
Templeman. Ii was very long for its height
and width. The door was at the side, at
little distance from one end, and on enter
ing there was found to be only one long.
low apartment, occupying the whole length
oil the house. There was a raised space
along the end OF the house nearest the door,
and the middle and largest part Of the house
had slightly raised space on each side,
leaving passage between on the bare
ground. These raised spaces We're frames
of bamboo. covered with mats, and were moi
more than five or six inches high. The
farther end OF the apartment was occupied
by square raised stove or fireplace, built
of brick, round which were boards for seats
about two inches above the ground On
each side OF the stove were two dark, dirty
looking cabins, the sleeping apartments o.
the family.
| At this end, under the gable OF the roof
was a small window, closed by a shutter OF
hinges. There was no chimney. nor any
other opening except the door. Overhead
, were racks. on which were spears and agri
cultural instruments and other things. This
with the roof, and indeed all the interior
was black and shining from the constan
smoke; for when it rains or is cold they shu
the door and window, and fill the room
with smoke, which they think warm ant
comfortable its only method Of escape ther
is by oozing through the thatch. The rails
, ed parts which occupy the sides Of by far III,
, larger part Of the house, were, 1--WE were in
fomedDused only at 'feasts, such as narriag
ceremonies, and the receipt Of visitors. Or
such occasions, the end near the door is oc
, cupied by musicians, and the males and fe
males are arranged in the centre of the house
, one on one side, the other on the other
Small fires are then lighted at interval
down the central passage on the ground, OIL
t which are kept pots Of coffee and other re
freshments, with attendants near them Il
! serve them out to the company. There wer
no partitions in the house, except the bull
heads or boarded ones Of the cabins near th
stove. The aspect of the interior resembles
the tween decks of an excessively dirt
ship. This was said to be good specimen
of one OF the mountain houses, all Of whicl
are on the same plan. They general,
stand pretty close together, huddled up with
out any kind Of order or arrangement, SUI
rounded by paling, forming thus small
. kampong or dasar. accessible by only on
gate, but totally destitute Of the fruit tree
which give so much beauty to the kampong
Uf tho plains, ond oonosal their otherwis
mean appearance and dirty condition.
Jukes' Surceying Voyage.