Ch. XL ^ SOUTH AMERICA. 471 



any communication; and the doors of them op- 

 posite to the space which separates them. In the 

 sides towards the country are loop-holes ; and in 

 critical times it was mack a court of guard. From 

 the outside of this oval tower, a wall is extended on 

 the left side ahout forty toises, and about twenty- 

 five on the right; this wall was continued in a great 

 number of irregular angles, and inclosed a large spot 

 of ground. It had only one entrance, which was 

 in the side opposite to the tower ; and facing the 

 last angle on the right near the rivulet. From 

 this gate or entrance was a passage, just broad 

 enough for two persons to walk abreast; and at the 

 wall turned short off towards the tower; but alwavs 

 of the same breadth. After this it winded towards 

 the breach, and widened so as to form a parade be- 

 fore the tower. In these passages, at the distance of 

 every two or three paces, one sees niches formed 

 within the wall, like sentry-boxes: and on the other 

 side two doors, which were entrances to the same 

 number of soldiers de logis, and seem to have served 

 the corps of the garrison for barracks. In the in- 

 ner square, to the left of the tower, were several 

 apartments, of which the height, disposition, and 

 doors, are a sufficient proof that this was once the 

 prince's palace. All the walls being full of hollows, 

 resembling cupboards, in which, as likewise in the 

 two chambers of the tower, the niches, and along 

 the passages, were stone pegs, with a head betwixt 

 six and eight inches long, and three or four in dia- 

 meter : the use of these probably was for hanging 

 up their arms. 



The whole main wall on the slope of the 

 mountain, and descending laterally from the oval 

 tower, is very thick, and the outside perpendi- 

 cular. Within is a large rampart, and on it a pa- 

 rapet of an unusual height; and though the ram- 



ii h 4 part 



