Joe Elvestrom, age 13, of meridian, Miss., for his question:

WHO INVENTED THE HAMMOCK?

A hammock is a hanging bed made of cloth or net with ropes attached to each end. These ropes are tied to hooks on the wails, to posts or to trees. Some hammocks swing from metal supports.

Peruvian and Brazilian Indians get the credit for having invented the hammock. They made their hanging beds from the bark of the hamack tree and then called their beds "hamacas."

Christopher Columbus sailors learned to use hammocks from Indians of the West Indies. Sailors on board ship have now been using hammocks for years.

Early hammocks used on ships were made from heavy canvas three feet wide and six feet long. The ends of the canvas had cords attached to them. Sailors tied the cords to hooks fastened in posts or in the ship's bulkheads or walls.

During World War II, the armed forces equipped most warships with bunks instead of hammocks. Merchant vessels also are usually equipped with bunks.

In summer, lots of people hang hammocks on porches or in their yards.