y article in
which metal could be employed, were of solid gold; but we had not time
for examination, as we found several sledges, drawn by small bullocks,
waiting for us near the beach.

We mounted, and the animals set off in a swift canter, upon a smooth and
ascending road, and in less than two hours we arrived at the king's
palace, which was an extensive building, not very remarkable in its
structure, excepting the unusual sight of the large columns of gold,
supporting the porticos, which extended from it on every side. But when
we had alighted and were proceeding through the porticos, I was
astonished at the wonderful finish of the statues which embellished
them. They were mounted on plinths of the burnished metal, and carved
out of a sort of light blue chalcedony, which, joined with their
masterly execution, gave them the appearance of life. I was surprised
at the strange attitudes which the sculptors had chosen to represent,
all more or less distorted, although the human proportions were
admirable. Some appeared as if they had been placed on their legs when
asleep, others laughing or crying, nay, one or two were represented in
the act of vomiting. Amongst the whole I could not perceive one image
in which the human form was represented in a noble or graceful posture,
and I pitied the taste of those who could have employed workmen of such
extraordinary talents in representing the image of his Maker, under such
a degrading variety of postures. I was about to make this remark to my
conductor, but I was checked by the remembrance, that I was in a king's
palace, not in a studio; and that kings have their fancies, which they
are not inclined to submit to public criticism.

When we arrived at the end of the portico, two lofty doors were thrown
open, and we were struck dumb with the magnificence of the scene which
presented itself to our eyes.

The king was seated on a throne of the most splendid workmanship; the
precious metal had been oxidised to every shade of colour, and was
wrought in beautiful mosaic: the walls and ceiling were entirely covered
with the same, in some parts burnished, to reflect as mirrors, in others
elaborately carved in ornamental fretwork, as peculiar from the elegance
of its design, as from the superiority of its execution. On each side
of the throne extending to the door at which we entered, were a row of
ladies, and behind them raised on a platform about two feet higher,
another row of