96 LITERATURE OF THE ARABS. 



East and the West had a kindred resemblance, as 

 appears by contrasting the disposition of the apart- 

 ments of the Alhambra, and other remains of Moor- 

 ish art, with the accounts given by travellers relative 

 to the general mode of oriental buildings. While 

 little attention, comparatively, was bestowed on the 

 exterior of their mansions, on the furniture and ac- 

 commodation within every thing was lavished that 

 could promote luxurious ease and personal comfort. 

 Their rooms were so contrived that no reverberation 

 of sound was heard. The light was generally ad- 

 mitted in such a manner as, by excluding external 

 prospects, to confine the admiration of the spectator 

 chiefly to the ornaments and beauties of the interior. 

 Their arrangements for ventilation were admirable ; 

 and by means of caleducts, or tubes of baked earth, 

 warm air was admitted, so as to preserve a uniform 

 temperature. The utmost labour and skill were 

 expended in embellishing the w^alls and ceilings. 

 Their tiles had a blue glazing over them ; their 

 paving-bricks were made of different colours, — blue, 

 white, black, or yellow, — which, when properly con- 

 trasted, had a very agreeable effect. Nothing is 

 more astonishing than the durability of the Moorish 

 edifices. The stucco composition on their walls 

 became hard as stone ; and, even in the present 

 century, specimens are found without a crack or a 

 flaw on their whole surface. Their woodwork also, 

 which is of a more fragile nature, still remains in a 

 state of wonderful preservation. The floors and 

 ceilings of the Alhambra have withstood the neglect 

 and dilapidation of nearly 700 years ; the pine-wood 

 continues perfectly sound, without exhibiting the 

 slightest mark of dry-rot, worm, or insect. The 

 coat of white paint retains its colour so bright and 

 rich, that it may be mistaken for mother-of-pearl. 



The history of Arabian architecture comprises a 

 period of about 800 years ; which M. Laborde has 

 divided into three distinct epochs, marking its rise, 



