er of the mosque. Some, indeed, came from
Constantinople, and others were brought from the south of France. They
are neither uniform in height nor girth--some having been pieced at
the bottom, and others partly buried;--so also with the capitals,
certain of which are evidently from the same source as the pillars,
while the remainder are but rude imitations, mostly Corinthian in
style. The original expenses of the building were furnished by a fifth
of the booty taken from the Spaniards, with the subsidies raised in
Catalonia and Narbonne. The Moors supplied voluntary, and European
captives forced labour.

[Illustration: A SHRINE IN CORDOVA MOSQUE.]

On Fridays, when the Faithful met in thousands for the noon-day
prayer, what a sight and what a melody! The deep, rich tones of the
organ may add impressiveness to a service of worship, but there is
nothing in the world so grand, so awe-inspiring as the human voice.
When a vast body of males repeats the formulae of praise, together, but
just slightly out of time, the effect once heard is never forgotten. I
have heard it often, and as I walk these aisles I hear it ringing in
my ears, and can picture to myself a close-packed row of white-robed
figures between each pillar, and rows from end to end between, all
standing, stooping, or forehead on earth, as they follow the motions
of the leader before them. A grand sight it is, whatever may be one's
opinion of their religion. In the manner they sit on the matted floors
of their mosques there would be room here for thirteen thousand
without using the Orange Court, and there is little doubt that on days
when the Court attended it used to be filled to its utmost.

To the south end of the cathedral the floor of two wide aisles is
raised on arches, exactly opposite the niche which marks the direction
of Mekka, and the space above is more richly decorated than any other
portion of the edifice except the niche itself. This doubtless formed
the spot reserved for the Ameer and his Court, screened off on three
sides to prevent the curiosity of the worshippers overcoming their
devotion, as is still arranged in the mosques which the Sultan of
Morocco attends in his capitals. Until a few years ago this rich work
in arabesque and tiles was hidden by plaster.

The kiblah niche is a gem of its kind. It consists of a horse-shoe
arch, the face of which is ornamented with gilded glass mosaic,
forming the entrance to a semi-circular recess beautif