398 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



This staircase, like that last mentioned, is sup- 

 ported by the half of a triangular arch, precisely like 

 the other already mentioned. The whole front 

 was ornamented with sculpture, and the ornaments 

 best preserved are over the doorway of the centre 

 apartment, which, being underneath the staircase, 

 cannot be exhibited in the engraving. 



The principal building, it will be seen, has pillars 

 in two of its doorways. At this place, for the first 

 time, we met with pillars used legitimately, accord- 

 ing to the rules of known architecture, as a support, 

 and they added greatly to the interest which the 

 other novelties here disclosed to us presented. 

 These pillars, however, were but six feet high, 

 rude and unpolished, with square blocks of stone 

 for capitals and pedestals. They wanted the ar- 

 chitectural majesty and grandeur which in other 

 styles is always connected with the presence of pil- 

 lars, but they were not out of proportion, and, in 

 fact, were adapted to the lowness of the building. 

 The lintels over the doors are of stone. 



Leaving this building, and crossing an overgrown 

 and wooded plain, at the distance of about three 

 hundred and fifty yards we reach the terrace of 

 Casa No. 3. The platform of this terrace, too, had 

 been planted with corn, and was easily cleared. 

 The plate opposite represents the front of the edifice, 

 which, when we first came upon it, was so beauti- 

 fully shrouded by trees that it was painful to be 

 obliged to disturb them, and we spared every branch 



