TIME OF CONSTRUCTION UNKNOWN. 267 



long, but he had visited every place within his reach, 

 and was literally an enthusiast in the pursuit. His 

 friends smiled at this folly, but, in consideration of 

 his many good qualities, excused it. There wsls no 

 man in the country whom we were so well pleased 

 to meet, and as it was a rare thing for him to asso- 

 ciate with persons who took the shghtest interest in 

 his hobby, he mourned that he could not throw up 

 all his business and accompany us in our explora- 

 tion of the ruins. 



It is worthy of remark, that even to a man so 

 alive to all subjects of antiquarian interest, the his- 

 tory of the building of this convent is entirely un- 

 known. In the pavement of the great corridor, in 

 the galleries, walls, and roof, both of the church and 

 convent, are stones from ancient buildings, and no 

 doubt both were constructed with materials furnish- 

 ed by the ruined edifices of another race, but when, 

 or how, or under what circumstances, is unknown. 

 On the roof the cura had discovered, in a situation 

 which would hardly have attracted any eyes but his 

 own, a square stone, having roughly engraved on it 

 this inscription : 



26 

 Marzo, 

 1625. 



Perhaps this had reference to the date of the con- 

 struction, and if so, it is the only known record that 

 exists in relation to it ; and the thought almost una- 

 voidably occurs, that where such obscurity exists in 



