Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition : during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 . ntersected by narrowlanes, closely shut in with high reed fences. The party visited the most conspicuous houses of the place. Thefirst which they saw was the mbure, situated on the spot where thekings father was murdered; the mound on which it is built is anartificial one, ten feet high. The mbure is about twelve feet square,and its sides or walls only four feet high; while its high-pitched roofrises to the height of about thirty feet. The walls and roof of thembure are constructed of canes ab
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition : during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 . ntersected by narrowlanes, closely shut in with high reed fences. The party visited the most conspicuous houses of the place. Thefirst which they saw was the mbure, situated on the spot where thekings father was murdered; the mound on which it is built is anartificial one, ten feet high. The mbure is about twelve feet square,and its sides or walls only four feet high; while its high-pitched roofrises to the height of about thirty feet. The walls and roof of thembure are constructed of canes about the size of a finger, and eachone is wound round with sennit as thick as a cod-line, made from thecocoa-nut husk. At a little distance, the whole house looked asthough it was built of braided cord, and presented a singular andcurious appearance, creating a favourable idea of the skill as well aslabour expended in its construction. There are others of small dimensions, of which the annexed wood-cut will give an idea. These are generally used as the depositoriesof the chiefs or persons of The next building visited was that of the kings women. This isone hundred and eighty feet in length, twenty-four feet wide, andthirty feet high. Here were a number of women engaged in makingmats, tapa, and baskets. They were gay and merry, though busilyengaged at their work. Another large spirit-house was next visited, in which the moun-taineers congregate; and on their exit from it they saw a bull near thedoor, which the natives, in essaying to follow the party, had to en-voi., in. 32 126 REWA. counter. It was not a little amusing to see them spitting at thebeast to drive him off. Ng-araningious dwelling was then visited. This is considered themost elegant house in the Feejees. It is very elaborately ornamentedwith sennit and braid. Order and decorum reign throughout, forNgaraningiou is extremely dignified and reserved in his domicile,and is reputed to be somewhat of a tyrant. He wil
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