The entire plan of the building measures 2,300 feet, by 600 feet. and is divided into several courts, all upon the same plane. The first of these is the court of cisterns, so named] from the cisterns which it contains, and which supplied the palace with water. The largest cistern is 102 feet long. and 51; feet wide, the whole being enclosed by a wall 6 feet and covered over with an arch 47 feet 6 inches in the centre, and 17 feet 6 inches below the surface of the ground. There are two circular apertures 25 feet 6 inches apart, and 3 feet 6 inches in diameter. strongly built, and carried up 3 feet 6 inches above the level of the ground. The water is by this means kept in a constant state of coolness ; in warm climates, a matter of some importance.
On the north side of the Court of Cisterns, is the Mesuar, or common bathing-eonrt, which is an oblong of 150 feet by 56 feet. This hall is more enriched than the last, which leads Us to notice a common nraetiee of the Afoors. that of inereasing, the luxury and magnificence of their decorations towards the interior of their buildings. In this hall there is an arcade sp•inging from very light marble eolninn-z, of which material the floor also is composed ; the walls are covered with mosaic tiling up to the ceiling, in which are small aper titres in the shape of stars, lined with green-glazed tiles, to assist ventilation, and difliise a ccolness through out the building. The bathrooms of the kaliph and sultana are very richly finished, ornamented with gilding and porce lain: the basins are of white marble, and the walls are covered to the height of the cornice: with black and white mosaies. The roof is of stone, vaulted, and is perforated for ventilation, as above.
At the lower end of the Nesuar is the Court of Lions, which is considered one of the most splendid examples of Noorish architecture still existing. It is, like the others, an oblong court, 100 feet in length by 50 in breadth, and is surrounded with a corridor or by 1.2S columns of white marble, 9 feet high, and S.4 inches in cireumfrrence. The capitals vary in design ; each design being frequently repeated. but similar designs being placed without any regard to regularity. The columns also are disposed irregularly, sometimes singly, at others coupled, and occasionally in groups of three.
The arches are of different sizes, the larger being 4 feet 2 inches wide, the smaller about 3 feet. They are enriched with a profusion of highly finished arabesques, and sur mounted with an inscription ; a rich cornice runs round the entire court. The floor of the colonnade is laid with white
marble. and the dado of the walls is formed a lining S high, of brilliant yellow and Hue mosaic tiling, with a border containing t he inscription. " There is no conqueror but God." in blue and gold. At each end of this court projects a kind of portico, supported, like the colonnade, with light marble columns and arches, and having a line stuccoed ceiling. In the centre of the court stands the celebrated Fountain of Lions, which consists of' an alabaster basin, richly decorated, snppot ted on the backs of twelve ve lions, and carrying another basin above. from m Inch the water Cell into the larger one, and thence through the lions' mouths into a large reser voir of black marble.
From the right-hand side of the Court of Lions, is a pas sage to the Hall of the Two Sisters, so named. from the two beautiful slabs of ‘) hite marble terming part of the pavement on each side of the fountain, and v. hich measure 15 feet by 71, feet, the entire sto face being perfectly free from crack or stain. "The malls are decorated from the pavement to the rise of the arches, vo it h the usual elegant mosaics; the panels Lute von them are filled w ith a delicate ornament, which, at a little distance, has the appearance of a plain thee ; the ceil ing is composed of stalactites. in stucco, and finished in a style of great elegance. The titer balconies of this sumptuous apartment were appropriated to musicians; the women of the harem sat below, and a jet d'ean in the middle diffused a coolness through the hall. The windows look into a little myrtle garden." On the other side of the Court of Lions, and opposite that of the Two Sisters, is the IIall of the A bencerrages, said to be so called, from the ciremm4tance of some noble Arabs having been put to death there by one of the kings of Gra nada. "It appears to have been it central saloon, opening a communication to the other parts of the palace. Every pos sible variety .of combination which can be devised by inge nuity and patience, are formed on the lines regularly cross each other in a variety of directions. and return again to the point from which they were first project ed. The extraordinary designs are thought to have been produced by pouring prepared gypsum into moulds, and, after it was applied to the walls, painting them with gold, azure. and purple.