They were built of red clay, plastered perfectly smooth.

There were no windows or openings on the exterior, but the door led into an open courtyard of some twelve feet in diameter.

On each side of this was a sort of alcove, built up of clay, about three feet from the ground.

This formed a couch or seat, some eight feet long by three feet high, with a thatched roof projecting so as to prevent the rain beating into the alcove.

Beyond were one or more similar courts in proportion to the size of the house.