Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/581

 CHAP. III. PALACES AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE. 477 but in lower relief. In front of the hall, which consists of eleven bays, is the open verandah (D, D), and the hall beyond is divided longitudinally into central and side aisles, the former being of the same width as the central bay of the main front. Virtually, therefore, the plan is similar to that of a European church, with nave and aisles running east and west, and a central transept with the principal entrance (E) at its south end, and the Imperial dais (F) in the north transept. The only light 4 9 504. The Tai-ho Hall, Pekin. admitted is that which enters through the entrance door, the glazed screens in the rear of the verandah, and three others on the north side. All the side bays and the remaining eight on the north side are filled in with walls in brick, which are plastered over on the inside and outside, and rise to the soffit of the lowest transverse beam. Externally these walls have a very ugly effect, especially as the beams and groups of brackets above are all richly painted in various colours and in part gilded. The roof of the hall is carried on forty columns about 30 ft. high, and of which the diameter is 3 ft. 5 in.; the coffered ceiling is carried on great beams at two different levels with bracketing between them and round the hall. The four central columns are gilded with tapestry or damask designs in relief, the others are painted red, and the beams and ceiling gilded and painted in bright colours. The columns of the verandah, the east and west narrow bays and the store-room and central recess in the rear are 20 ft. high, and carry a lower roof with bracketed eaves, and this with the eaves of the principal roof over the hall gives the appearance