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an Oval form, and the Eaves come within 9 feet of the Ground Which is always raised somthing from the level to keep the floor Dry, the Floor is always laid with Grass or Hay to a good thickness, on which some of the family sleep on Mats, others who take the trouble, have bedsteads raised with little Stools Neatly Carved out of the Solid for Pillows and sleep on Cloth, & Matts; Their Furniture Consists of a large Chest or two to hold their property in, and on one of these the Master of the House and his Wife Sleep on Cloth and Matts, and those who have not stools for Pillows use the seats of the Canoes — one or two large Stools for the accomodation of their Guests, stools for Beating Pudding on, with a stone or two Neatly Cut for a Pestle, Platters and trays of different sizes, baskets of several sorts & a post or two to hang their provisions on. The unmarried Weomen generally Sleep Near the Parents and the Unmarried Men and Servants generally sleep in the Weomens eating house, but in fine weather they prefer the Open Air, as the Grass with which the floors are Covered, if not frequently removed, produced abundance of Fleas for which reason they sleep out of Doors to avoid these disagreeable companions — they always divest themselves of their Wearing apperal when they sleep but most of the Young Men and Servants make their wearing apperal serve for Bedding also, as they seldom take the pains of keeping too many Cloaths at one time, except an extra suit for Dress, which they do not Wear in Common; this way of Proceeding has its Conveniency as they have always their Bedding with them, and have nothing to take Care of — they Have also small houses for Kitchins, as they never dress provisions in the House they eat in, the smoke being not only disagreeable to them, but Spoils their Cloths.
The Houses of the Chiefs are not remarkable for being better furnished then those of the Common people tho they are somthing larger; and like the Houses for the reception of Travelers are generally Open on all sides, having a low fence of Plank forming a square about them, and the part within the fence either spread with small pebbles or laid with Grass — but if they intend to reside long in one house or place, they have a Neat small house raild in for their use, but they frequently sleep in poor mean huts and eat in the Open Air, hanging their provisions to a Tree.
Their Canoes may be also Comprehended in the article of Building and those for War are Certainly curious machines when We
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Indigenous Histories |  |
© Derived from the 1935 Print Edition edited by Owen Rutter, page 198, 2004
Published by kind permission of the Library
To cite this page use: https://paulturnbull.org/project/southseas/journals/-morrison-071.html