The trees which I had chosen for my farmhouse were about a foot in diameter in the trunk.

They formed a long square; the long side facing the sea.

The dimensions of the whole were about twenty-four feet by sixteen.

I cut deep mortices in the trees, about ten feet distant from the ground, and again ten feet higher, to form a second story; I then placed in them strong poles: this was the skeleton of my house--solid, if not elegant; I placed over this a rude roof of bark, cut in squares, and placed sloping, that the rain might run off.

We fastened these with the thorn of the acacia, as our nails were too precious to be lavished.
While procuring the bark, we made many discoveries.