| Title | A Native Building Constructed of Mats |
| Origtitle | Indian Charnal House |
| Caption | This picture of an Indian Charnal House, or mortuary for deceased chiefs, demonstrates the Native method of covering buildings using mats made of rushes. You can see the mats rolled up at the top of the picture to expose the viewer to the scene inside the Charnal House. |
| Source | virrtualjamestown.org |
| Date | 1585 |
| URL | http://www.virtualjamestown.org/images/white_debry_html/white37.html |
| Creator | John White |
| Type | Watercolor |
| Copyright | British Museum |
| Origin | Internet |
Artificiall matts – This phrase occurs on pg. 759 in the section on the “natural inhabitants” of the New World. The word “artificiall” at this time carries only the meaning of “man-made,” perhaps with overtones of “made with art or skill” (see OED def. I. 1. a. and III. 8.). The OED cites Hariot’s use of this phrase in its entry on “artificial.” The mats Hariot refers to were actually a form of roofing for the Native American homes he encountered on Roanoke. See pg. 759 of the Hakluyt text. - Matt