. The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world : being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics . nt of itsdomed roof, but they could not be inducedto believe in its size. They defended theirposition by argument, not merel_y content-ing themselves with assertions. Their chiefargument was derived from the impossibil-ity of such a building sustaining its ownweight. The only building materials ofwhich they had any exjjerience were theposts and sticks of which their own houseswere made, and the re
. The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world : being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics . nt of itsdomed roof, but they could not be inducedto believe in its size. They defended theirposition by argument, not merel_y content-ing themselves with assertions. Their chiefargument was derived from the impossibil-ity of such a building sustaining its ownweight. The only building materials ofwhich they had any exjjerience were theposts and sticks of which their own houseswere made, and the reeds wherewith theywere thatched. Sometimes a very luxuri-ous house-owner would plaster the interiorwith mud, producing that peculiar styleof architecture which is jiopularly called wattle-and-daub. They could not com-prehend in the least that stone could be usedin building dwelling-houses; and the wholesystem of cutting stone into rectangularpieces, and the use of bricks, was equallybeyond their comprehension. Jlortar alsowas an inexplicable mystery, so that onthe whole they decided on discrediting thetales told them by the white Kaffir house (see page 155) locks just It is of pre- (36). KAFFIRS AT HOME.(See page 70.) (57) KATFIR HUTS. 59 cisely the same shape, is made of nearly thesame materials, and has a little arched door,just like the entrance of a beehive, throughwhich a man can barely creep on his handsand knees. The structure of these huts isvery simple. A circle is drawn of some four-teen feet in diameter, and around it are stucka number of long, flexible sticks. Thesesticks are then bent over at the top and tiedtogether, so as to form a framework very likea common wire mousetrap. A reed thatch-ing is then laid over the sticks, and securedin its place by parallel lashings. Theselashings are made of monkey-rojjes, orthe creepers that extend their interminablelength from tree to tree, and are found ofevery size, from a cable to a twist themselves in
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