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PERU. 



origin^ and consistency of principle of the two 

 finest styles of architecture, the Grecian and the 

 Gothic. The theory of Vitruvius receives all the 

 confirmation it could desire from these humble 

 structures at Huaura ; while that of Sir James 

 Hall, in the case of Gothic architecture, derives 

 no less support from the wicker forms above men- 

 tioned. And these instances, as far as they go, 

 seem to possess a peculiar value from being found 

 amongst rude nations, separated far from one an- 

 other, and holding little or no intercourse with 

 those countries in which architecture has made 

 the greatest progress : they help to support the 

 idea, that there may be an intrinsic or natural 

 beauty in certain classes of forms, which after- 

 wards, in the hands of persons of higher powers 

 of execution, and more cultivated taste, may not 

 only have afforded a ground-work, but have given 

 consistency to future architectural systems. 



On returning from Huaura, we lost our way by 

 making a wrong turn up one of the innumerable 

 lanes which intersect the country in every direc- 

 tion. By following one of these, we were event- 

 ually brought to the very edge of the desert, and 

 11 



