{"id":"01KG8AM7AKGE0B2KK0A83Q5K51","cid":"bafkreihyqyoqjv6vhnhgtcuu4hfszag6ys5d4dlv2ztcal2mkcmrmdf4hy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":3948,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:25.200Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 4","source_file":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","start_line":3892,"text":"was the place of my permanent abode while I remained in the valley,\r\nand as I was necessarily placed upon the most intimate footing with its\r\noccupants, I may as well here enter into a little description of it\r\nand its inhabitants. This description will apply also to nearly all the\r\nother dwelling-places in the vale, and will furnish some idea of the\r\ngenerality of the natives.\r\n\r\nNear one side of the valley, and about midway up the ascent of a rather\r\nabrupt rise of ground waving with the richest verdure, a number of large\r\nstones were laid in successive courses, to the height of nearly\r\neight feet, and disposed in such a manner that their level surface\r\ncorresponded in shape with the habitation which was perched upon it. A\r\nnarrow space, however, was reserved in front of the dwelling, upon the\r\nsummit of this pile of stones (called by the natives a ‘pi-pi’),\r\nwhich being enclosed by a little picket of canes, gave it somewhat the\r\nappearance of a verandah. The frame of the house was constructed of\r\nlarge bamboos planted uprightly, and secured together at intervals by\r\ntransverse stalks of the light wood of the habiscus, lashed with thongs\r\nof bark. The rear of the tenement--built up with successive ranges of\r\ncocoanut boughs bound one upon another, with their leaflets cunningly\r\nwoven together--inclined a little from the vertical, and extended from\r\nthe extreme edge of the ‘pi-pi’ to about twenty feet from its surface;\r\nwhence the shelving roof--thatched with the long tapering leaves of the\r\npalmetto--sloped steeply off to within about five feet of the floor;\r\nleaving the eaves drooping with tassel-like appendages over the front\r\nof the habitation. This was constructed of light and elegant canes in a\r\nkind of open screenwork, tastefully adorned with bindings of variegated\r\nsinnate, which served to hold together its various parts. The sides of\r\nthe house were similarly built; thus presenting three quarters for the\r\ncirculation of the air, while the whole was impervious to the rain.\r\n\r\nIn length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, while\r\nin breadth it could not have exceeded as many feet. So much for the\r\nexterior; which, with its wire-like reed-twisted sides, not a little\r\nreminded me of an immense aviary.\r\n\r\nStooping a little, you passed through a narrow aperture in its front;\r\nand facing you, on entering, lay two long, perfectly straight, and\r\nwell-polished trunks of the cocoanut tree, extending the full length of\r\nthe dwelling; one of them placed closely against the rear, and the other\r\nlying parallel with it some two yards distant, the interval between\r\nthem being spread with a multitude of gaily-worked mats, nearly all of a\r\ndifferent pattern. This space formed the common couch and lounging place\r\nof the natives, answering the purpose of a divan in Oriental countries.\r\nHere would they slumber through the hours of the night, and recline\r\nluxuriously during the greater part of the day. The remainder of the\r\nfloor presented only the cool shining surfaces of the large stones of\r\nwhich the ‘pi-pi’ was composed.\r\n\r\nFrom the ridge-pole of the house hung suspended a number of large\r\npackages enveloped in coarse tappa; some of which contained festival\r\ndresses, and various other matters of the wardrobe, held in high\r\nestimation. These were easily accessible by means of a line, which,\r\npassing over the ridge-pole, had one end attached to a bundle, while\r\nwith the other, which led to the side of the dwelling and was there\r\nsecured, the package could be lowered or elevated at pleasure.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 4"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJQ7QHJRR79154PWN9CAH","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1JYRSHWXR7JM0HYS9D4","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AM7AGN155Q3FDJ0VJCXNG","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AM7AK5RCJ2GQ35ZXJEJZE","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:30.035Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:36.414Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}