thing as subservient to the wants of the soldier, and ordered all the grain in the city to be gathered and garnered up for the sole use of those who fought. Even this was dealt out sparingly, and each soldier received four ounces of bread in the morning, and two in the evening, for his daily allowance.

senger, he died of his wound shortly after reaching the camp, consoled with the idea that he had preserved the secret and the lives of his employers.

CHAPTER XIII.

SUFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OF MALAGA.

THE sufferings of Malaga spread sorrow and anxiety among the Moors; and they dreaded lest this beautiful city, once the bulwark of the kingdom, should fall into the hands of the unbelievers. The old warrior king, Abdalla el Zagal, was still sheltered in Guadix, where he was slowly gathering together his shattered forces. When the people of Guadix heard of the danger and distress of Malaga, they urged to be led to its relief; and the alfaquis admonished El Zagal not to desert so righteous and loyal a city, in its extremity. His own warlike nature made him feel a sympathy for a place that made so gallant a resistance; and he dispatched as powerful a reinforcement as he could spare, under conduct of a chosen captain, with orders to throw themselves into the city.

The wealthy inhabitants, and all those peacefully inclined, mourned over a resistance which brought destruction upon their houses, death into their families, and which they saw must end in their ruin and captivity still none of them dared to speak openly of capitulation, or even to manifest their grief, lest they should awaken the wrath of their fierce defenders. They surrounded their civic champion, Ali Dordux, the great and opulent merchant, who had buckled on shield and cuirass, and taken spear in hand, for the defence of his native city, and, with a large body of the braver citizens, had charge of one of the gates and a considerable portion of the walls. Drawing Ali Dordux aside, they poured forth their griefs to him in secret. "Why," said they, "should we suffer our native city to be made a mere bulwark and fighting-place for foreign barbarians and desperate men? They have no families to care for, no property to lose, no love for the soil, and no value for their lives. They fight to gratify a thirst for blood or a desire for revenge, and will fight on until Intelligence of this reinforcement reached BoabMalaga become a ruin and its people slaves. Let us dil el Chico, in his royal palace of the Alhambra, think and act for ourselves, our wives, and our chil-Filled with hostility against his uncle, and desirous dren. Let us make private terms with the christians of proving his loyalty to the Castilian sovereigns, he before it is too late, and save ourselves from destruc- immediately sent forth a superior force of horse and tion." foot, under an able commander, to intercept the detachment. A sharp conflict ensued; the troops of El Zagal were routed with great loss, and fled back in confusion to Guadix.

The bowels of Ali Dordux yearned towards his fellow-citizens; he bethought him also of the sweet security of peace, and the bloodless yet gratifying triumphs of gainful traffic. The idea also of a secret Boabdil, not being accustomed to victories, was negotiation or bargain with the Castilian sovereigns, flushed with his melancholy triumph. He sent for the redemption of his native city, was more con- tidings of it to the Castilian sovereigns, accompanied formable to his accustomed habits than this violent with rich silks, boxes of Arabian perfume, a cup of appeal to arms; for though he had for a time assum- gold, richly wrought, and a female captive of Ubeda, ed the warrior, he had not forgotten the merchant. as presents to the queen; and four Arabian steeds Ali Dordux communed, therefore, with the citizen-magnificently caparisoned, a sword and dagger richly soldiers under his command, and they readily con-mounted, and several albornozes and other robes formed to his opinion. Concerting together, they sumptuously embroidered, for the king. He entreat-wrote a proposition to the Castilian sovereigns, of-ed them, at the same time, always to look upon him fering to admit the army into the part of the city with favor as their devoted vassal. intrusted to their care, on receiving assurance of Boabdil was fated to be unfortunate even in his protection for the lives and properties of the inhabit-victories. His defeat of the forces of his uncle, desants. This writing they delivered to a trusty emissary to take to the christian camp, appointing the hour and place of his return, that they might be ready to admit him unperceived.

tined to the relief of unhappy Malaga, shocked the feelings and cooled the loyalty of many of his best adherents. The mere men of traffic might rejoice in their golden interval of peace; but the chivalrous The Moor made his way in safety to the camp, spirits of Granada spurned a security purchased by and was admitted to the presence of the sovereigns. such sacrifices of pride and affection. The people Eager to gain the city without further cost of blood at large, having gratified their love of change, began or treasure, they gave a written promise to grant the to question whether they had acted generously by conditions; and the Moor set out joyfully on his re- their old fighting monarch. "El Zagal," said they, turn. As he approached the walls where Ali Dor-" was fierce and bloody, but then he was true to his dux and his confederates were waiting to receive country; he was an usurper, it is true, but then he him, he was descried by a patrolling band of Go-maintained the glory of the crown which he usurped. meres, and considered a spy coming from the camp of the besiegers. They issued forth and seized him, in sight of his employers, who gave themselves up for lost. The Gomeres had conducted him nearly to the gate, when he escaped from their grasp and fled. They endeavored to overtake him, but were These factious murmurs soon reached the ears of encumbered with armor; he was lightly clad, and Boabdil, and he apprehended another of his customhe fled for his life. One of the Gomeres paused, ary reverses. He sent in all haste to the Castilian and, levelling his cross-bow, let fly a bolt, which sovereigns, beseeching military aid to keep him on pierced the fugitive between the shoulders; he fell, his throne. Ferdinand graciously complied with a and was nearly within their grasp, but rose again, request so much in unison with his policy. A deand with a desperate effort attained the christian tachment of one thousand cavalry, and two thousand camp. The Gomeres gave over the pursuit, and the infantry, was sent, under the command of Don Fercitizens returned thanks to Allah for their deliver- nandez Gonsalvo of Cordova, subsequently renown ance from this fearful peril. As to the faithful mes-ed as the great captain. With this succor, Boabdil

If his sceptre was a rod of iron to his subjects, it was a sword of steel against their enemies. This Boabdil sacrifices religion, friends, country, every thing, to a mere shadow of royalty, and is content to hold a rush for a sceptre."

expelled from the city all those who were hostile to him, and in favor of his uncle. He felt secure in these troops, from their being distinct in manners, language, and religion, from his subjects; and compromised with his pride, in thus exhibiting that most unnatural and humiliating of all regal spectacles, a monarch supported on his throne by foreign weapons, and by soldiers hostile to his people.

Nor was Boabdil el Chico the only Moorish sovereign that sought protection from Ferdinand and Isabella. A splendid galley, with latine sails, and several banks of oars, displaying the standard of the crescent, but likewise a white flag in sign of amity, came one day into the harbor. An ambassador landed from it, within the christian lines. He came from the king of Tremezan, and brought presents similar to those of Boabdil, consisting of Arabian coursers, with bits, stirrups, and other furniture of gold, together with costly Moorish mantles: for the queen, there were sumptuous shawls, robes, and silken stuffs, ornaments of gold, and exquisite oriental perfumes.

his time in meditation, prayer, and rigorous absti nence, until his body was wasted and his mind bewildered, and he fancied himself favored with divine revelations. The Moors, who have a great reverence for all enthusiasts of the kind, looked upon him as inspired, listened to all his ravings as veritable prophecies, and denominated him el santo, or the

saint.

The woes of the kingdom of Granada had long exasperated the gloomy spirit of this man, and he had beheld with indignation this beautiful country wrested from the dominion of the faithful, and becoming a prey to the unbelievers. He had implored the blessings of Allah on the troops which issued forth from Guadix for the relief of Malaga; but when he saw them return, routed and scattered by their own countrymen, he retired to his cell, shut himself up from the world, and was plunged for a time in the blackest melancholy.

On a sudden, he made his appearance again in the streets of Guadix, his face haggard, his form emaciated, but his eye beaming with fire. He said The king of Tremezan had been alarmed at the that Allah had sent an angel to him in the solitude rapid conquests of the Spanish arms, and startled by of his cell, revealing to him a mode of delivering the descent of several Spanish cruisers on the coast Malaga from its perils, and striking horror and conof Africa. He craved to be considered a vassal to fusion into the camp of the unbelievers. The Moors the Castilian sovereigns, and that they would extend listened with eager credulity to his words: four hunsuch favor and security to his ships and subjects as dred of them offered to follow him even to the death, had been shown to other Moors who had submitted and to obey implicitly his commands. Of this numto their sway. He requested a painting of their ber many were Gomeres, anxious to relieve their arms, that he and his subjects might recognise and countrymen, who formed part of the garrison of respect their standard, whenever they encountered | Malaga. it. At the same time he implored their clemency They traversed the kingdom by the wild and lonely towards unhappy Malaga, and that its inhabitants passes of the mountains, concealing themselves in might experience the same favor that had been the day and travelling only in the night, to elude the shown towards the Moors of other captured cities. christian scouts. At length they arrived at the The embassy was graciously received by the chris- mountains which tower above Malaga, and, looking tian sovereigns. They granted the protection re-down, beheld the city completely invested; a chain quired; ordering their commanders to respect the of encampments extending round it from shore to flag of Tremezan, unless it should be found render- shore, and a line of ships blockading it by sea; ing assistance to the enemy. They sent also to the while the continual thunder of artillery, and the Barbary monarch their royal arms, moulded in es- smoke rising in various parts, showed that the siege cutcheons of gold, a hand's-breadth in size.* was pressed with great activity. The hermit scanned the encampments warily, from his lofty height. He saw that the part of the encampment of the marques of Cadiz which was at the foot of the height, and on the margin of the sea, was most assailable, the rocky soil not admitting ditches or palisadoes. Remaining concealed all day, he descended with his followers at night to the sea-coast, and approached silently to the outworks. He had given them their instructions; they were to rush suddenly upon the camp, fight their way through, and throw themselves into the city.

While thus the chances of assistance from without daily decreased, famine raged in the city. The inhabitants were compelled to eat the flesh of horses, and many died of hunger. What made the sufferings of the citizens the more intolerable, was, to behold the sea covered with ships, daily arriving with provisions for the besiegers. Day after day, also, they saw herds of fat cattle, and flocks of sheep, driven into the camp. Wheat and flour were piled in huge mounds in the centre of the encampments, glaring in the sunshine, and tantalizing the wretched citizens, who, while they and their children were perishing with hunger, beheld prodigal abundance reigning within a bow-shot of their walls.

It was just at the gray of the dawning, when objects are obscurely visible, that they made this desperate attempt. Some sprang suddenly upon the sentinels, others rushed into the sea and got round the works, others clambered over the breastworks. There was sharp skirmishing; a great part of the Moors were cut to pieces, but about two hundred succeeded in getting into the gates of Malaga.

The santon took no part in the conflict, nor did he endeavor to enter the city. His plans were of a different nature. Drawing apart from the battle, he threw himself on his knees on a rising ground, and,

THERE lived at this time, in a hamlet in the neigh-lifting his hands to Heaven, appeared to be absorbed borhood of Guadix, an ancient Moor, of the name of Abrahin Algerbi. He was a native of Guerba, in the kingdom of Tunis, and had for several years led the life of a santon or hermit. The hot sun of Africa had dried his blood, and rendered him of an exalted yet melancholy temperament. He passed most of

Cura de los Palacios, c. 84. Pulgar, part 3. c. 86.

in prayer. The christians, as they were searching for fugitives in the clefts of the rocks, found him at his devotions. He stirred not at their approach, but remained fixed as a statue, without changing color or moving a muscle. Filled with surprise not unmingled with awe, they took him to the marques of Cadiz. He was wrapped in a coarse albornoz, or Moorish mantle; his beard was long and grizzled,

The king, having dined, was taking his siesta, or afternoon's sleep, in his tent; and the queen, though curious to see this singular man, yet, from a natural delicacy and reserve, delayed until the king should be present. He was taken therefore to an adjoining HOW HAMET EL ZEGRI WAS HARDENED IN HIS tent, in which were Doña Beatrix de Bovadilla, marchioness of Moya, and Don Alvaro of Portugal, son of the duke of Braganza, with two or three attendants. The Moor, ignorant of the Spanish tongue, lad not understood the conversation of the guards, and supposed from the magnificence of the furniture and the silken hangings, that this was the royal tent. From the respect paid by the attendants to Don Alvaro and the marchioness, he concluded that they were the king and queen.

↑ Cura de los Palacios. * Cura de los Palacios.

ing down from the mountains to the sound of of heart, for that in a few days all this mighty fleet drum and trumpet, and marching into the camp would be scattered by the winds of Heaven; and with glistening arms, as yet unsullied by the toils that he should sally forth, under guidance of the of war. sacred banner, and attack this host and utterly de'One morning, the whole sea was whitened by the feat it, and make spoil of those sumptuous tents; sails and vexed by the oars of ships and galleys and Malaga should be tri:mphantly revenged upon bearing towards the port. One hundred vessels of her assailants. So the heart of Hamet was hardened various kinds and sizes arrived, some armed for war-like that of Pharaoh, and he persisted in setting at like service, others deep freighted with provisions. defiance the Catholic sovereigns and their army of At the same time, the clangor of drum and trumpet saintly warriors." bespoke the arrival of a powerful force by land, which came pouring in lengthening columns into the camp. This mighty reinforcement was furnished by the duke of Medina Sidonia, who reigned like a petty monarch over his vast possessions. He came with this princely force, a volunteer to the royal standard, not having been summoned by the sovereigns; and he brought, moreover, a loan of twenty thousand doblas of gold.

"Hamet el Zegri," says Fray Antonio Agapida, "stood on the top of the high tower of Gibralfaro, and beheld this injury wrought upon the christian force, and his proud heart was puffed up. And the For this valiant and skilful achievement, king Moorish nigromancer stood beside him. And he Ferdinand, after the surrender of the city, conferred pointed out to him the christian host below, en- the dignity of knighthood upon Francisco Ramirez, camped on every eminence around the city, and in the tower which he had so gloriously gained. covering its fertile valley, and the many ships floating upon the tranquil sea; and he bade him be strong

The worthy padre Fray Antonio Agapida indulges | down, and the warriors of Loxa had to surrender. in more than a page of extravagant eulogy, upon this invention of blowing up the foundation of the tower by a piece of ordnance, which he affirms to be the first instance on record of gunpowder being used in a mine.

CHAPTER XVII.

HOW THE PEOPLE OF MALAGA EXPOSTULATED

WITH HAMET EL ZEGRI.

WHILE the dervise was deluding the garrison of Malaga with vain hopes, the famine increased to a terrible degree. The Gomeres ranged about the city as though it had been a conquered place, taking by force whatever they found catable in the houses of the peaceful citizens; and breaking open vaults and cellars, and demolishing walls, wherever they thought provisions might be concealed.

The wretched inhabitants had no longer bread to eat; the horse-flesh also now failed them, and they | were fain to devour skins and hides toasted at the fire, and to assuage the hunger of their children with vine-leaves cut up and fried in oil. Many perished of famine, or of the unwholesome food with which they endeavored to relieve it; and many took refuge in the christian camp, preferring captivity to the horrors which surrounded them.

At length the sufferings of the inhabitants became so great, as to conquer even their fears of Hamet and his Gomeres. They assembled before the house of Ali Dordux, the wealthy merchant, whose stately mansion was at the foot of the hill of the Alcazaba, and they urged him to stand forth as their leader, and to intercede with Hamet el Zegri for a surrender. Ali Dordux was a man of courage, as well as policy; he perceived also that hunger was giving boldness to the citizens, while he trusted it was subduing the fierceness of the soldiery. He armed himself, therefore, cap-a-pie, and undertook this dangerous parley with the alcayde. He associated with him an alfaqui named Abrahen Alharis, and an important inhabitant named Amar ben Amar; and they ascended to the fortress of Gibralfaro, followed by several of the trembling merchants.

They found Hamet el Zegri, not, as before, surrounded by ferocious guards and all the implements of war; but in a chamber of one of the lofty towers, at a table of stone, covered with scrolls traced with strange characters and mystic diagrams; while instruments of singular and unknown form lay about the room. Beside Hamet el Zegri stood the prophetic dervise, who appeared to have been explaining to him the mysterious inscriptions of the scrolls. His presence filled the citizens with awe, for even Ali Dordux considered him a man inspired.

Do we hope for succor?-from whence are we to receive it? The time for hope is gone by. Granada has lost its power; it no longer possesses chivalry, commanders, or a king. Boabdil sits a vassal in the degraded halls of the Alhambra; El Zagal is a fugitive, shut up within the walls of Guadix. The kingdom is divided against itself,-its strength is gone, its pride fallen, its very existence at an end. In the name of Allah, we conjure thee, who art our captain, be not our direst enemy; but surrender these ruins of our once happy Malaga, and deliver us from these overwhelming horrors.'

"

Such was the supplication forced from the inhabitants by the extremity of their sufferings. Hamet el Zegri listened to the alfaqui without anger, for he respected the sanctity of his office. His heart, too, was at that moment lifted up with a vain confidence. "Yet a few days of patience," said he, "and all these evils will suddenly have an end. I have been conferring with this holy man, and find that the time of our deliverance is at hand. The decrees of fate are inevitable; it is written in the book of destiny, that we shall sally forth and destroy the camp of the unbelievers, and banquet upon those mountains of grain which are piled up in the midst of it. So Allah hath promised, by the mouth of this his prophet. Allah Achar! God is great. Let no man oppose the decrees of Heaven!

The citizens bowed with profound reverence, for no true Moslem pretends to struggle against whatever is written in the book of fate. Ali Dordux, who had come prepared to champion the city and to brave the ire of Hamet, humbled himself before this holy man, and gave faith to his prophecies as the revelations of Allah. So the deputies returned to the citizens, and exhorted them to be of good cheer: "A few days longer," said they, “and our sufferings are to terminate. When the white banner is removed from the tower, then look out for deliverance; for the hour of sallying forth will have arrived." The people retired to their homes, with sorrowful hearts; they tried in vain to quiet the cries of their famishing children; and day by day, and hour by hour, their anxious eyes were turned to the sacred banner, which still continued to wave on the tower of Gibralfaro.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HOW HAMET EL ZEGRI SALLIED FORTH WITH THE

SACRED BANNER, TO ATTACK THE CHRISTIAN
CAMP.

"THE Moorish nigromancer," observes the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, " remained shut up in a tower of the Gibralfaro, devising devilish means to work mischief and discomfiture upon the christians. He was daily consulted by Hamet el Zegri, who had great faith in those black and magic arts, which he had brought with him from the bosom of heathen Africa."

From the account given of this dervise and his incantations by the worthy father, it would appear that he was an astrologer, and was studying the stars, and endeavoring to calculate the day and hour when a successful attack might be made upon the christian camp.

The alfaqui Abrahen Alharis, whose sacred character gave him boldness to speak, now lifted up his voice, and addressed Hamet el Zegri. "We implore you," said he, solemnly, "in the name of the most powerful God, no longer to persist in a vain resistance, which must end in our destruction, but deliver up the city while clemency is yet to be obtained. Think how many of our warriors have fallen by the sword; do not suffer those who survive to perish by famine. Our wives and children cry to us for bread, and we have none to give them. We see them expire in lingering agony before our eyes, while the Famine had now increased to such a degree as to enemy mocks our misery by displaying the abundance distress even the garrison of Gibralfaro, although the of his camp. Of what avail is our defence? Are our Gomeres had seized upon all the provisions they walls peradventure more strong than the walls of could find in the city. Their passions were sharpenRonda? Are our warriors more brave than the de-ed by hunger, and they became restless and turbu fenders of Loxa? The walls of Ronda were thrown | lent, and impatient for action.