g 



15 



quakeS;, the houses are generally of one story ; 

 they are, however, Tery commodious, white- 

 washed without, and generally painted within. 

 Each is accommodated with a pleasant garden^ 

 irrigated by an aqueduct that furnishes water 

 for the use of the family. Those belonging to 

 the wealthier classes, particularly the nobility, 

 are furnished with much splendour and taste. 

 The inhabitants, perceiving that old buildings of 

 two stories have resisted the most violent shocks, 

 have of late years ventured to reside in the upper 

 rooms, and now begin to construct their houses 

 in ''the European manner. In consequence of 

 this the cities have a better appearance than for- 

 merly, and the more so, as instead of forming 

 their houses of clay hardened in the sun, which 

 was supposed less liable to injury, they now em- 

 ploy brick and stone. Cellars, sewers, and wells, 

 were formerly much more common than at pre- 

 sent, a circumstance which may have contri- 

 buted to render the buildings more secure from 

 earthquakes. 



The churches arc generally more remarkable 

 for their wealth than their style of architecture. 

 The cathedral and the church of the Dominicans 

 ill the capital, which are built of stone, are, 

 however, exceptions. The first was constructed 

 at the royal expense, under the direction of the 

 present bishop, Don Manael Aid ay, an excellent 

 and learned prelate; it is built in a masterlj 



