Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1896 — HOUSES IN THE TREE-TOPS. [ARTICLE]

HOUSES IN THE TREE-TOPS.

Tfac Indians of Guiana Build Beyond the Reach of Floods. Interest in the Guiana country naturally centers about the most j fertile region, that which commands the mouth of its great waterway. As you approach the Orinoco from the gulf of Para you will see that picturesque sight to which Humboldt refers in his travels, “innumerable fires in the tall palm'trees”—the dwelling-places of the peaceful Guaraunos. The legend that this strange tribe of Indians, once the masters of the Orinoco, live in trees the entire year, results from thg great annual rise of the Orinoco. At fihudad Bolivar, three hundred miles up, this amounts sometimes, in a contracted .place, to ninety feet. On The .broader delta it is always suflicient to .cover islands and ,low ground; therefore the inhabitants very wisely build their houses well abjqve the ground. For this purpose four .fall palm trees are selected, and the crosspieces which form the foundation for the houses are lashed to the main support by pieces of a tough vine indigenous to the delta. Upon these is laid the flooring, and then the sides and roof are thatched with large palm leaves, to tvliich the Indians have given the poetic name of “featiier-of-tbe-suu.” Ttere are many advantages which this particular palm leaf possesses over others of the same family, the principal one being its similarity to asbestos in the quality of resisting fire. In the location of his housq the Guarnuno takes another wise precaution in 'building, and it is one that carries with it a lesson for the government under whost sovereignty he lives.—Century.

The Exhaustion of the Coal Supply, The exhaustion of the supply 0 1 anthracite coal veins is a subject thal is now receiving much attention. William Griffith, of Scranton, Pa„ who has l»en studying the matter, gives it as his opinion in the Bond Record that the supply of coal still available does not ntnount to more than 5,073,786,750 tons. The largest estimate made is that of the .Pennsylvania coal waste commission, which places the supply at 6,898,000,000 tons. It Is estimated that at tha present annual rate of consumption the coal will be Exhausted in from eightyfou™ to 109 years. Blodds—Here’s a rather clever llttla book, “Don’ts for Club Men." Slobbs— It Isn’t-tbe don’ts that worry me; it’j th» dues.- -Philadelphia Racard.