Figure 43.—Lashing of thatch rafters:

1, end rafter of middle section; 2, thatch rafters; 3, 4, 5, 6, lashing turns; 7, 8, two pieces of arch showing join: a, lashing of upper thatch rafters to end rafter. The braid attached to the end rafter makes a transverse turn (3) around the thatch rafter on the right side of the end rafter from below upwards and passes diagonally across the back of the end rafter to appear at the left lower corner. Another transverse turn (4) around the thatch rafter is made from below upwards, when the braid makes another diagonal turn across the back of the end rafter to appear at the lower right corner. From here the braid makes a diagonal turn (5) upwards across the thatch rafter to the left upper corner, passing transversely across the back of the end rafter to appear at the right upper corner. Another diagonal turn (6) is made across the thatch rafter. The lashing is finished off with a circumferential turn around the previous turns by passing the braid around between the two wooden elements. The braid then passes on to the next thatch rafter. b, Lashing of lower obliquely running thatch rafters to end rafter. The technique is similar to the above, but it is obvious that when the oblique rafter is prevented by a side purlin from reaching across the end rafter, the transverse turn (4) around the thatch rafter can not be made. The turns (3, 5, and 6) are made to make the lashing as secure as possible, but the irregular appearance caused makes the lashing appear untidy. c, Lashing of thatch rafters to arch. The thatch rafters are lashed to the arch in exactly the same way as they are to the straight main purlins of the middle section (fig. 23.) Here the 2 turns on either side of the thatch rafters are shown. On coming in contact with a join, as shown between the pieces (7 and 8), the temporary lashing of fau bark (u'a mau) is removed and the two pieces held together at the join by an assistant. The thatch rafters are spaced in the usual way and the lashing simply continued around the parts forming the join as if there was no break in continuity. When the work has gone past the join, the two pieces (7 and 8) are securely lashed together.