In The Construction Of Their Dwelling-Houses The Mandingoes Also
Conform To The General Practice Of The African Nations In This Part
Of The Continent, Contenting Themselves With Small And Incommodious
Hovels.
A circular mud wall, about four feet high, upon which is
placed a conical roof, composed of the bamboo cane, and thatched
with grass, forms alike the palace of the king and the hovel of the
slave.
Their household furniture is equally simple. A hurdle of
canes placed upon upright sticks, about two feet from the ground,
upon which is spread a mat or bullock's hide, answers the purpose of
a bed; a water jar, some earthen pots for dressing their food; a few
wooden bowls and calabashes, and one or two low stools, compose the
rest.
As every man of free condition has a plurality of wives, it is found
necessary (to prevent, I suppose, matrimonial disputes) that each of
the ladies should be accommodated with a hut to herself; and all the
huts belonging to the same family are surrounded by a fence
constructed of bamboo canes, split and formed into a sort of wicker-
work. The whole enclosure is called a sirk, or surk. A number of
these enclosures, with narrow passages between them, form what is
called a town; but the huts are generally placed without any
regularity, according to the caprice of the owner. The only rule
that seems to be attended to is placing the door towards the south-
west, in order to admit the sea-breeze.
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