time in seeing wliat was most interesting in the city
and its immediate neiglihourliood, and resting after
the fatigue of our earlier experiences at sea.
There is a gem of Gotliic-Moresque architecture
near Lisbon—the monastery and cliurcli of Santa
F ig. 20.—The Porch of Santa Maria, Belem.
Alaria at Belem. One or tn^o of us Avalked there one
loA'ely Sunday afternoon. The porch of tlie church
is Gothic, and rich heyond description. U^) to the
A'ery roof of the church eveiy pinnacle and buttress,
and even the flat portions of the Avail, are encrusted
Avith ornament. The carvings are singularly easy
and varied. They are executed in a pale brick-red
limestone, Avhicli seems, unfortunately, to be suffering
a good deal from the effects of air and rain.
The interior of the church is even more pleasing
than the exterior. Here there is no excess of ornament,
hut simple, delicate shafts of pale grey marble
support, Avith all the airiness of effect of Moorish
architecture, a Avonderfully carved and fretted Gothic
roof. Service was going on Avlien we Avere there.
The church Avas cool and dim, and the clear SAveet
voices of the choristers rose and fell along the aisle,
and seemed to linger in the roof among the sculptured
palm-leaves. The high altar, Avith. its lighted
candles and vases of floAA^ers, and the rich robes of
the officiating priests, formed a Avarm patch of colour
strongly in contrast Avith the cold simplicity of the
grey marble. A small flock of Avorshippers, Avhose
strongly-marked olive faces and picturesque attire
had to us all the interest of novelty, made up for
their small number hy the apparent earnestness of
their devotion. The Avhole scene struck ns as heing
wonderfully harmonious and pleasant.
The monastery of Santa Maria of Belem, commonly
called the Monastery of St. Jeronymo from its
having heen occupied hy monks of that order, is in
connection AAutli the church, and, Avith it, Avas founded
in 1499 hy King Manoel the Fortunate in commemoration
of the discovery of the Indies, on the spot
where A^asco da Gama embarked on his first eastern
voyage.
The monastery is now used as a State asylum for