Ohfervations &c. 275 



But the Art, wherein the Moors (efpecially) are the mo^Thdr sy,ii 

 converfant, is Architecture: though, as Room and Conveni-tecturc/ 

 ence are the only Points regarded in their Plans, the [r^*-^] 

 Mallums (as they call thofe Perfons who are skilled in the 

 defigning and executing of them) are to be confidered rather 

 as Mafters of a Craft or Trade, than of a Science or Liberal 

 ProfelTion. However as there is a near Relation betwixt the 

 Buildings of this Country and thofe that are occafionally men- 

 tioned in the H. Scriptures, it may be prefumed, that a par- 

 ticular Account of the Structure and Contrivance of the one, 

 will not a little contribute to the clearing up fuch Doubts and 

 Difficulties as have arifen, from not rightly comprehending the 

 Fafliion of the other. 



Now the Method of building, both in Barhary and thQLei}ant, Thev,jf,innof 

 feems to have continued the fame^ from the earliefb Ages, with- Bar£r'/'!rW 

 out the leaft Alteration or Improvement. Large Doors, fpa- ^'^' '^^^^'"' 

 cious Chambers, Marble Pavements, cloyftered Courts, with 

 Fountains fometimes playing in the Midft, are certainly Con- 

 veniencies very well adapted to the Circumftances of thefe 

 Climates, where the Summer Heats are generally fo intenfe. 

 Add to this, that the Jealoulie, which is commonly to be met 

 with in Mafters of Families, is hereby lefs apt to be alarmed, 

 whilft all the Windows open into private Courts, if we except 

 fometimes a latticed Window or Balcony towards the Street. 

 It is during the Celebration only of fome Zeenah [^-^t;] or 

 publick Feftival, that thefe Houfes and their latticed Windows 

 and Balconies are left open. For this being a Time of great 

 Liberty, Revelling and Extravagance, each Family is ambi- 

 tious of adorning both the inlide and the outfide of their Houfes 

 with the richeft Part of their Furniture : whilft Crowds of 

 both Sexes, drefled out in their beft Apparel and laying alide 

 all Modefty, Ceremony and Reftraint, go in and out where 

 they pie afe. TheAccount wehavein thexBook of A7;/^.?(9.3o.) 

 of Jezehels painting her Face and tiring her Head and look- 

 ing out at a Window, upon Jehu\ Publick Entrance into Jez- 

 reel, gives us a lively Idea of an Eaftern Lady at one of thefe 

 Solemnities. 



If we quit then the Streets of thefe Cities, (which are ufu-'^^*'^"'^''- 

 ally narrow, with fometimes a Range of Shops on each Side) 

 and enter into any of the principal Houfes, we fhall firft pais 



Zzz through 



