which Toby and I
were members. As the dwelling to which we had been first introduced was
the place of my permanent abode while I remained in the valley, and as I
was necessarily placed upon the most intimate footing with its occupants,
I may as well here enter into a little description of it and its
inhabitants. This description will apply also to nearly all the other
dwelling-places in the vale, and will furnish some idea of the generality
of the natives.

Near one side of the valley, and about midway up the ascent of a rather
abrupt rise of ground waving with the richest verdure, a number of large
stones were laid in successive courses, to the height of nearly eight
feet, and disposed in such a manner that their level surface corresponded
in shape with the habitation which was perched upon it. A narrow space,
however, was reserved in front of the dwelling, upon the summit of this
pile of stones (called by the natives a "pi-pi"), which, being enclosed by
a little picket of canes, gave it somewhat the appearance of a verandah.
The frame of the house was constructed of large bamboos planted uprightly,
and secured together at intervals by transverse stalks of the light wood
of the Habiscus, lashed with thongs of bark. The rear of the
tenement--built up with successive ranges of cocoa-nut boughs bound one
upon another, with their leaflets cunningly woven together--inclined a
little from the vertical, and extended from the extreme edge of the
"pi-pi" to about twenty feet from its surface; whence the shelving
roof--thatched with the long tapering leaves of the palmetto--sloped steeply
off to within about five feet of the floor; leaving the eaves drooping
with tassel-like appendages over the front of the habitation. This was
constructed of light and elegant canes, in a kind of open screen-work,
tastefully adorned with bindings of variegated sinnate, which served to
hold together its various parts. The sides of the house were similarly
built; thus presenting three-quarters for the circulation of the air,
while the whole was impervious to the rain.

In length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, while in
breadth it could not have exceeded as many feet. So much for the exterior;
which, with its wire-like reed-twisted sides, not a little reminded me of
an immense aviary.

Stooping a little, you passed through a narrow aperture in its front; and
facing you, on entering, lay two long, perfectly straight, and
well