Floor Plans

Title:
Medebs

Note:
“Circular Abyssinian dwellings are of various descriptions, from the little wicker and straw gojjo (a wigwam) to the large and commodious huts used by rich men, and often to be met with in Axum and Àdoua. These latter may b from 20 to 30 feet in diameter, and by a clever contrivance are often divided off so as to form several rooms. This is done by an inner wall being raised at a distance of about 5 feet from the outer one and parallel to it. The passage between them in then divided by cross wall, so as to form medebs (or mud benches for sleeping on, b b), and on either side of the entrances (a a) are left spaces, one of which might be used for grinding corn, another as kitchen and bakehouse, and the other for store-rooms. The residence of a rich man may generally be known by the number of jars for beer, mead, corn, &c., which these last contain.” Pgs.210-211

Source: 
Parkyns, Mansfield. 1853. Life in Abyssinia: Being Notes Collected During Three Years' Residence and Travels in that Country Vol. 1. London: Murray, p.211. Book at Google.