ugh the figures were conventionally drawn,
the vigour of action and the truth to nature of the attitudes portrayed
evidenced the work of an artist of no mean power.

But I had no opportunity just then to study the sculptures at leisure,
for Pousa was evidently very anxious to complete his responsible task of
delivering me safely within the precincts of the palace. I was
therefore obliged to content myself with a hasty glance at the facade as
a whole, while dismounting and resigning my horse to the care of a groom
who awaited my arrival at the foot of the broad flight of steps leading
up to the main entrance. Then, accompanied by Pousa, who also had
dismounted, I ascended the steps, fifty in number, and was ushered
through a wide and lofty doorway provided with a pair of heavy swing
doors of massive gold, the panels of which were decorated with figures
in high relief, into a cool and lofty hall, where I was received by and
formally turned over to an official whom I afterward learned was the
major-domo, or master of the queen's household. This individual very
cordially welcomed me to Masakisale, in the name of the queen, and,
bidding me and the attendants bearing my belongings to follow him, led
the way to the rear of the hall, which, as soon as my eyes grew
accustomed to the somewhat subdued light, I saw was about fifty feet
long by fifty feet high by twenty-five feet wide, with a broad balcony,
supported by columns, running all round it at a height of some thirty
feet from the pavement.

At the far end of the hall was a massive flight of steps, hewn out of
the solid rock wall, leading up to the interior balcony, to which we
climbed; and, arrived there, I was conducted to a suite of two rooms,
which I was given to understand had been assigned for my use by the
queen. The larger room of the two was a front room looking out upon the
palace gardens, and was evidently intended for day use; while the one
behind, which had no window and derived its light from the front room
and from a handsome gold lamp suspended from the ceiling, was a combined
bathroom and sleeping chamber. This latter room, the stone floor of
which was covered with fine matting, contained a very beautiful and
spacious ivory couch, most luxuriously furnished, a number of elegant
and equally luxurious divans, and an immense bath, almost big enough to
swim in, sunk into the floor. The official who had me in charge pointed
out these various matters to me