In all these villages the houses are constructed of heavy logs or timbers, closely and neatly joined; the roofs are shingled with long and narrow shingles, and are abruptly four-sloped.

At every house there was something for sale--food, drink, or _cigarros_.

All these houses were built close to the edge of the road, and in the middle of the front was a little square window, in which the goods were shown.

When no trade was solicited, these windows were closed with solid wooden shutters.

Not only, however, was every house a store, but on the highway between towns, we passed many places where, beneath brush shelters, women offered fruit, food, or drink for sale.