THE GARDENS OF GRANADA 249 



spread with vines, which are supported by four 

 small Carystian pillars. From this seat the water 

 issues through little pipes, as if pressed out by the 

 persons sitting upon it ; and first falling into a stone 

 reservoir, is received by a polished marble basin, 

 its descent being secretly so managed as always 

 to keep the basin full, without running over. . . . 



In many places there are seats of marble, which 

 . . . offer a great relief and accommodation to such 

 as are fatigued with walking. 



Near each seat is a little fountain. And 

 throughout the whole hippodrome, rivulets run 

 murmuring along, conducted by pipes, and taking 

 whatever turn the hand of art may give them ; and 

 by these the different green plots are severally 

 refreshed, and sometimes the whole together. 



THE GARDENS OF GRANADA 



(From, " The Conquest of Granada ") 



THE glory of the city was its vega or plain, which 

 spread out to a circumference of thirty-seven 

 leagues, surrounded by lofty mountains, and was 

 proudly compared to the famous plain of Damascus. 

 It was a vast garden of delight, refreshed by 

 numerous fountains, and by the silver windings of 

 the Xenil. The labour and ingenuity of the Moors 

 had diverted the waters of this river into thousands 

 of rills and streams, and diffused them over the 

 whole surface of the plain. Indeed, they had 

 wrought up this happy region to a degree of 



