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It is truly a palace, adorned with pillars, gardens, and 
fountains. 
The architecture of this building is quite contrary to 
that used in Barbary. In that region of Africa the larg- 
est habitation receives no other light than what enters 
by the door. Here there is no wall, external or internal, 
that has not two rows of windows placed over one 
another. They are so numerous, that in the room I ge- 
nerally occupied, which was but 24 feet long and 12 
broad, I counted 14 large windows and a door. Those 
of the upper row have blinds on the outside, and win- 
dows on the inside. Those of the lower row have 
blinds, windows, and shutters of wood; this has a good 
effect in the houses, which are lofty; and it is remark- 
able, that similar windows are placed in the partition 
walls, between the apartments. 
The roof and part of the stair-cases are of wood; the 
corridors or galleries are also furnished with blinds. 
The floors of all the rooms are of marble, as are the 
frames of the doors and windows, and the foundations 
of the building. The rest of the wall is built with rough 
stones, bad bricks, and lime. In the isle of Cyprus the 
houses are not covered with tiles. The roofs are Hat 
and very heavy. This method must impair the walls, 
and it is doubtless this custom which causes the decay 
of all the houses, the palace alone excepted. 
The ancient palace called Serraga or Serail, which is, 
large and badly divided, serves for a dwelling to the 
governor- general of the island. 
The ancient cathedral of St. Sophia is used at pre- 
sent as a mosque bv the Turks. 
