The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-05-24

Q are cheap.y and poorly huit being formed
e by setting posts in;0 ;le ground inter
j. weaving them With small branches. anl
j. rubbing over them several coats OF mui.
e The roofs are matched with bamboo leaves.
c while tie ground serves for 2 r0o-. Arer-
tures arc left :. tLe sides tor = d1or aaa
; window. They vary ia d.ame-er from ten
e 10 twenty feet and they usually have la. a
single apartment.
4 IL each village --ere = enc holse lar-e-
? than tie res, vi cA . used ouly Tor public
. meetings. IL tie small Tillages there are
- no streets, but tie houses are placed close
- together But in the large cities the houses
are or greater dimensions, and are arranged
I'D regular streets. Among the Ashantees
common mode Of constructing The walls
: by placing two rows Of stakes at g dis
tarce equal 10 lie INTENDED thickness of
the wall, and filing The interval with gray
ely clay, mixed with mortar, ana plaster
lns the external surface Of the whole. The
steps and raised floors of the rooms are OF
clay and stone, with a thick layer OF red
earth, which IS sometimes painted.
Arcades aud piazzas are sometimes seen
in the best houses In central Africa. the
huts OF the Common people are made OF
straw entirely, or circular mud walls
.hatchel with straw, or huts inclosed with
coarse mats made Of grass But the dwell
lings Of the better class consist Of several
court yards, fenced in by four walls In
side OF these, each wife has square place
TO herself inclosed by walls and hand
some thatched hut. The owner dwe.ls in
TWO turrets raised above the rest. Some
Of the h0uses are two stories high. with
stairs bulk Of clay. The floors above are
formei by lashing poles close 'togethe-,
then others are placed dagonally across
these. and the upper surface Of The whole
i covered with mortar SIX or eight inches
AL thickness
made for cleaning the streets. ana although
the cities cover large space yet they be
come exceedingly filthy by tie continued
1 presence Of many thousands ofpeople, aul
some OF them are rendered nearly impassA-
bic at certain seasons Of the year, by the
mud ard pools OF standing water The
people Of Comassee, the capital Of Asian
tee, have clOacas to their dwellings This
is the only instance in Africa noted by tray-
elers
Notwithstanding the mildness Of the eli
mate, this African architecture IS far from
being pleasant. Our dwellings," SAYS
ClappertOn IN BornOu, "were about eight
feet in diameter inside. about the shape OF
hay stack, with hole in the bottom
about two and half feet high, which we
used TO creep in and out at. Air or light
holes We were obliged TO dispense with, as
they admitted both flies and mosquitoes,
which We're worse than darkness"
In Yourr.ba, irregular and badly built
clay walls, ragged looking thatched roofs
anu "''-r i-'' '-l with cow dung form
the AaOltatl0ns compare 10 which COM
mon English barn IS . palace. The natives
moisten the floors and walls Two OF three
times a day with a solution 81 COW dung
and water. Tais keeps them cool and
dark.
The furniture inside does not convey im-
pressions OF great comfort 10 the civilized
mind. 4 few calabashes for holding food.
earthern vessels OF different kinds. and one
OF two wooden mortars for beating corn,
might Constitute the principal part oi the
cooking utensils: and tile arrangements
Tor lodging are of 4 still more primitive na-
,ure Among the Mandinso chiefs, the
most industrious aud civilized OF Africans,
the beds, divans, and sofas, als heaps OF
mud, covered with untannel skins for
cushions and loss Of wood serve for boz
s;er5. None but tie free and rich indulge
in the luxury Of \ raw hide
ACRICULTURE.
The African system OF agriculture is very
simple. The first object IS TO remove tn
abundant vegetation from the surface by
chopping and burning. In tiiling the soil
TIC hoe IS the only Instrument used aud as
the ground is very soft in the wet season.
scarcely any other IS really necessary The
natives have three kinds Of hoes. one Of
which being made heavy, with crooked
handle, answers the purpose Of spade.
The ground Is planted by male and female
slaves. Each OF The former has hoe with
q long handle, with which he goes straight
across the field, striking with his hoe On
each side, and raising little earth. The
female slave follows with basket OF grain
dropping the seeds into The holes made by
the zoe. which are covered over win earth
and slightly pressed with the foot
The grain IS hoed two OF three times du-
ring the season When it is ripe il Is
= pulled by the roots; and after drying the
beads are cut OF gathered into bundles.
and deposited in granaries- The stalks OF
the doura, which IS very generally cultlva-
ted, grow to the height Of about ten Tee.
and are frequently used for fencing. and
D for rafters for houses. When the grain is
ripening, It must be constantly watched
a to prevent lis destruction by myriads o
5 small birds.
! The granaries. the materials Of whict
; are clay and chopped straw. are fashioned
into the form Of large urn OF pitcher
g raised from the ground By stones, and It il
+ about ten feet high aud seven in diameter
4 and contracted AZ the top
e Rice is sown in beds. and Is easll,
? raised Wheat ripens in three month
r bat the grain IS small The grain Is con
b verted into meal 10y rubbing it between TX
Z stones.
y. Tire greatest part OF the agricultural Ia
> Dor i performed by females. \ l.ttle in
Gustry. however, is rewarded with an abuu
dant retGrn. and it is estimated that tn
e WORK Of twenty days, in each year, IS sufn
d cient 10 secure the crops OF vegetables tia
-e are used in the frugal repas,s Of tie IA
re tives.
e Tie banks Of many u tie rivers Gispla
L the evidences Of : very dense population
/ On the Niger Lander found q continue
fT -..