oreigner
resident--an English miner, a Scotch manufacturer, or a German merchant.

These remarks are meant only for the houses of the country. In small
villages the same style as the country-house is observed, with very
slight modifications; but in large towns, although some of the
characteristics are still retained, there is an approximation to the
architecture of European cities--more particularly, of course, to those
of Spain.

The house of Don Ambrosio differed very little from the general fashion
of "casas grandes" of country style. It had the same aspect of gaol,
fortress, convent, or workhouse--whichever you please; but this aspect
was considerably lightened by the peculiar colouring of the walls, which
was done in broad vertical bands of red, white, and yellow, alternating
with each other! The effect produced by this arrangement of gay colours
is quite Oriental, and is a decided relief to the otherwise heavy
appearance of a Mexican dwelling. In some parts of the country this
fashion is common.

In shape there was no peculiarity. Standing upon the road in front you
see a long wall, with a large gateway near the middle, and three or four
windows irregularly set. The windows are shielded with bars of
wrought-iron standing vertically. That is the "reja." None of them
have either sash or glass. The gateway is closed by a heavy wooden
door, strongly clasped and bolted with iron. This front wall is but one
storey high, but its top is continued so as to form a parapet,
breast-high above the roof, and this gives it a loftier appearance. The
roof being flat behind, the parapet is not visible from below. Look
around the corner at either end of this front wall. You will see no
gable--there is no such thing on a house of the kind we are describing.
In its place you will see a dead wall of the same height as the parapet,
running back for a long distance; and were you to go to the end of it,
and again look around the corner, you would find a similar wall at the
back closing in the parallelogram.

In reality you have not yet seen the true front of Don Ambrosio's house,
if we mean by that the part most embellished. A Mexican spends but
little thought on the outside appearance of his mansion.

It is only from the courtyard, or "patio," you can get a view of the
front upon which the taste of the owner is displayed, and this often
exhibits both grandeur and elegance.

Let us pass through the gateway, and enter