It is a remarkable thing that the natives of Celebes have not discovered the use of diagonal struts in strengthening buildings.

I doubt if there is a native house in the country two years old and at all exposed to the wind, which stands upright; and no wonder, as they merely consist of posts and joists all placed upright or horizontal, and fastened rudely together with rattans.
They may be seen in every stage of the process of tumbling down, from the first slight inclination, to such a dangerous slope that it becomes a notice to quit to the occupiers.
The mechanical geniuses of the country have only discovered two ways of remedying the evil.

One is, after it has commenced, to tie the house to a post in the ground on the windward side by a rattan or bamboo cable.
The other is a preventive, but how they ever found it out and did not discover the true way is a mystery.

This plan is, to build the house in the usual way, but instead of having all the principal supports of straight posts, to have two or three of them chosen as crooked as possible.

I had often noticed these crooked posts in houses, but imputed it to the scarcity of good, straight timber, until one day I met some men carrying home a post shaped something like a dog's hind leg, and inquired of my native boy what they were going to do with such a piece of wood.