BUILDINC A HOUSE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 19, 7 May 1892, Page 481

BUILDINC A HOUSE.

In some parts of New Guinea whole towns are built ‘ in the sea.’ The inhabitants live in constant fear of the bush tribes, and as a protection against them, construct their houses just off'the shore. Mr W. 1). Pitcairn, in his ‘ Two Years Among the Savages of New Guinea,’ describes a summer villa which he built after the native pattern at a cost of £5. Two chiefs undertook the work, and received a little more than half the money, so that the labourers got about £2.

I drew on the beach a rough ground plan of the house, showing the length and breadth, the division of rooms ami the two verandahs. Peter, one of the chiefs, measured the plan with a piece of cane, marking the length ami breadth, and then rolled up the cane and put it in his pocket, or rather in his dilly-bag, for of course natives are not provided with pockets. He went home to his island, and in a few days came back with several large canoes with all the necessary logs, timber, and other materials lashed to them, including the sago palm leaves for the roofing, and the cane for splitting into laths, and when the house was finished there was verylittle material left. How he calculated so nicely I cannot say, but of course he had had considerable experience in building native houses. Not a nail was used in the building. On the sea side the house stood in about four feet of water at low tide, ami on the shore side was connected with the beach by a gangway. The people have a curious way of driving piles. We gave them a rope, which they fixed round the head of the pile, leaving the two ends dangling. Several natives got hold of each end and pulled alternately, until the pile was worked down to the required length. The piles are made of white mangrove, ami in order to prevent the ravages of the cobra insect, it is best to tar the piles well, or better still—though very expensive—to copper them all over.

The flooring is of cane, the walls are made of the bark or skin of the palm, and the roof of the leaves of the sagotralm, which have to be put on separately, the leaves overapping a little, and on theoutside are placed some branches of the cocoanut plant.

A house of tins kind is quite rain proof, and if well con structed will keep in good condition for at least two years.