The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-09-17

they can keep cool. Just see how the
other fellow, who lives where it is al
ways hot, manages to be comfortable,
and then you will have struck the key.
note.
For centuries the inhabitants Of thc
tropics have been devising ways tc
keep cool. Not only have the natural
resources Of their own countries been
converted into methods Of cooling
schemes, but the mechanical skill OF
modern science has also been introduced
by the fabulously wealthy rulers of these
semibarbaroUs lands.
The natives IF New Guinea, who are
compelled, owing to the intense heat,
to go almost naked during most Of the
year, havo hit upon "a scheme that is
claimed to make life not only bcarable,
but highly enjoyable during the long.
hot days when the broiiing sun is send
ing down seeming rays CT fire.
While their plan does not tax the
brains of modern science, it is. lever
theless. unique and involves the labor
of an enormous army Of workers. Their
method is to take "a broad stretch Of
land adjoining their large villages and
convert it nto swamp. This is done
by clearing the land thoroughly Of all
vegetation and undcrbrush, only the
trees being left standing. BY months IF
patient labor, in which all inhabitants
of the village, both men and women,
join, they dig d canal from the nearest
lake and drain it into their artificial
marsh. The depth Of water in these
marshes varies from 10 to 20 or 30 feet,
according to the excavation done before
hand.
Trees are then cut and carefully strip
ped Of both bark ard branches and
driven in g1Oups il numerous parts Of
the marsh, leaving about 10 or 10 feet
above the water. On the tops Of these
stills, Or piles, the houses ere then built
and 81 Oycrhan, the marsh.
IN ono parts Of India "Aoating vii
laccs' have been constructed with great
succcSs. The inv, ntrrS Of this mode Of
keeping cool came from inland tribes Of
natives, wherr the heat killed of hun
dred.s CYcry year. These mon journeycd
to the river shores and there built their
houses on large fat RATS. Some of these
villages have now grown to large pro-
portions. and one near acClucr's inlet,
or gulf Of Ouin, Is it is now called,
numbers over 500 housos. They are all
connected by ropes, with IN 20 feet
OF water between, and move with tho
current. This huge excursion feet, as it
appears, laZily floats from Il shore to
the other and up and down the stream,
catching all the air that comes from the
n~eighboring forests. The difference in
temperature between the land and tho
RATS averages 20 degrees.
In Syria the latest and most c~ffectual
scheme of escaping the sitting heat has
been found in the subterrancan passages,
Of which the country has many. Large
forces of Syrians have made mammoth
excavations i'll the passages, and here,
deep down in the bowels Of the earth,
built abodcs. 1t is very cool down there.
the rocks oftcntimes being actually cold.
This is largely accounted for by their
contact with the numerous s~ubtcrrancan
waterways. which flow along under
mountains and rents in the rocks caused
by internal volcanic cruptions.
Down there, hundreds of feet beneath
the carth's surface and in, as it were,
a gigantic tomb, the Syrians pass the
heated portion of the day i'll quiet Sc
clusion and peaceful rest.
Tho Chinese, although q backward
and unprogrossive race, havo nevcrthe.
less tried many experiments for keeping
cool, and think they have solved the
question by their tree dwellings," At
least 1t is the most satisfactory method
that has over been put III operation in
the Flowery Kingdom.
Taking advantage Of the tremendous
growth OF trees in somoparts of the yell
low empire, the natives have built their
houses, like nests, III them. This they
do by splitting tho large and topmost
branches and fitting tho foundation of
these houses securely in these splits.
Perched up there, "a hundred feet in
the air and in the direct sweep of tho
wind when there is any, the Cclcstials
dream away the tedious summer day.
The type of architecture is more preten-
tlous than that displayed III the simple
log cabin. The walls are decorated
with curious designs, and the inter
woven latticework Of palm and bamboo
which form the houses give them IA de-
l~lghtfully cool and airy appearance. 1t
Is an ideal nest, and n in which the
Celestial never tires of lingering.
The king Of Siam has "a scheme on
which that swarthy ruler labored for
many years, and which, besides being
wholly ORIGINAL, represents an expendi-
Il r of money that would make "a dozen
men wealthy for life. In substance, it is
a mammoth glass room. measuring
some 20 feet square by 10 feet high,