Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/87

 INDUSTEIAL PEODUCE, ETC. 63 the woods ; but at Lau sinnet is used for this purpose, and patterns wrought with it upon the reeds in several dfFerent colours. A man, master of difficult patterns, is highly valued, and his work certainly produces a beautiful and often artistic effect. Sometimes the reeds within the grass walls are reticulated skilfully with black lines. The door-posts are so finished as to become literally reeded pillars, but some use the naturally carved stem of the palm-fern instead. Fire- places are sunk a foot below the floor nearly in the centre of the build- ing, and are surrounded by a curb of hard wood. In a large house, the hearth is twelve feet square, and over it is a frame supporting one or two floors, whereon pots and fuel are placed. [1.] Sometimes an elevation at one end of the dwelling serves as a divan and sleeping place. Slight houses are run up in a short time. When at Lakemba, I passed a number of men who had just planted the posts of a house twenty feet long. I was away, engaged with a Tongan Chief, for about an hour and a half, and on my return was amazed to see the house finished, except the completing of the ridge. An ordinary house can be built in a fortnight ; the largest require two or three months. A visitor, speaking of Tanoa's house, says, " It surpasses in magnitude and grandeur anything I have seen in these seas. It is 130 feet long, 42 feet wide, with massive columns in the centre, and strong, curious workmanship in every part." Excellent timber being easily procured, houses from 60 to 90 feet long, by 30 feet wide, are built, with a frame- work which, unless burnt, will last for twenty years. The wood of the bread-fruit tree is seldom used ; vesi, the green-heart of India, buabua, very like box- wood, and cevua, bastard sandal-wood, being more dura- ble. A peculiarity of the Fijian pillar spoils its appearance. Where the capital is looked for there is a long neck just wide enough to receive the beam it supports. A pillar two feet in diameter is thus cut away at the top to about six inches. Ordinary grass houses have no eaves ; [2] but there is over the doorway a thick semicircular pojection of fern and grass forming a pent, [a.] Some houses have openings for windows. The doorways are generally so low, as to compel those who enter to stoop. The answer to my inquiry why they were so, oflen reminded me of Proverbs xvii. 19. Although the Fijian has no mounted Arab to fear, he has often foes equally subtle, to whom a high doorway would give facility for many a murderous visit. Temples, dwelling-houses, sleeping-houses, kitchens, (Lau,) inns, or