The chunky blocks of the stone walls were decorated with art done by children, and colorful mats covered the floor.
The stony plains which cover so large a part of the country are often covered with acacia jungle, and in the dry water-courses a kind of wild palm, the dom, abounds, from the leaves of which baskets and mats are woven.
Only a few are now imported, which are used for mats.
On the island of Niihau is a fine grass (Cyperus laevigatus), out of which the beautiful Niihau mats were formerly made; it is used in making Panama hats.
The mats may be of one colour only, or they may be made of different colours and in different designs.
