There is one very ancient and remarkable building which We have not here deserilm•d, but which may nut he passed over with:nit notice ; we allude to the CAABA, of which a descrip tion will be tumid under that head.
For further and more detailed descriptions of this style of building. we refer the reader to the elaborate works of .1 ones and Murphy.
Al U0 I:.STONE, a very remarkable stone, found in Corn wall, and some other parts of England, used in the coarser works of modern builders. It is, in fact, a white granite, and is a very valuable stone. It is very coarse and rude, but has beautiful congeries of variously constructed and differently figured particles, not, diffused among, or running into one another, but each pure and distinct, though firmly cohering with whatever it conies in contact. Its colours ale principally black and white : the white are of a soft marble textui e. and opaque. Iiirmol into larger congeries. and emu ating a sort of tabulated structure ; among these are many of a pure or stalline splendour and transparence ; and in some are lodged, in different directions, many small flaky musses of pure talcs, of several odours; soine are wholly pellucid. others of an opaque white, others of the colour of
brown crystal, and a vast number perfectly black. It is l'ound in immense strata in some parts of Ireland, but is dis regauded there.
It is found with us in Devonshire, Cornwall and some other counties; and brought thence. in vast quantities to London. It never forms any whole strata there, but is fouud on the surfitce or the earth, in immense tuid unman ageable masses; to separate these, and render them portable, it hole is dug in sonic part of the mass, which being sur rounded with a re of clay, is filled up with water ; this by degrees soaks and finding its way into the imper ceptible cracks, so far loosens the cohesion of the partie!es, that the day after, on driving a large wedge into the hole, the stone breaks into two or more pieces. It is used in London tiir the steps of pubic buildings, and on other occasions, where great strength and hardness are required.