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CHAPTER V.

Islands surrounding or dependent on Andalus-Cadiz-Canary Islands-Fortunate Islands-
Algesiras-Tarifa-Mallorca-Menorca-Iviza.

ANDALUS is surrounded by islands, or countries called islands by the Arabs. Among the latter is Jezíratu-Kádis (Cadiz), which belongs to the jurisdiction of Seville, although Ibnu Sa'íd places it in the territory of Sherish (Xerez); but, well considered, it comes to the same thing, for Xerez and its district belong also to Seville.

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Cadiz is filled with the remains of buildings, temples, aqueducts, and other Cadiz. wonderful constructions of the ancient kings of Andalus. "The most remarkable of “these monuments," says Ibnu Ghálib, in his work entitled Contentment of the soul in the contemplation of ancient remains found in Andalus,' "is undoubtedly the "tower and idol at Cadiz, which has not its equal in the world, if we except "another of the same shape and description which stands on a high promontory in Galicia. It is notorious that so long as the idol on the tower at Cadiz stood, "it prevented the winds from blowing across the straits into the Ocean, so that no "large vessels could sail from the Mediterranean into the Ocean, or vice versa ; but, on the contrary, when it was pulled down in the first years of the reign of the Bení 'Abd-al-múmen, the spell was broken, and vessels of all descriptions began to furrow the sea with impunity."

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This idol, in the opinion of some writers, held some keys in his right hand, but the contrary has been proved by the author of the Ja'rafiyah, as we shall have further occasion to show. It is also stated, that according to an ancient tradition the belief prevailed all over Andalus that underneath the idol an immense treasure lay concealed from times of old: that the tradition existed no doubt can be entertained, since various writers, who saw this idol, agree in saying that when 'Alí Ibn Músa,' nephew of the Káid Abú 'Abdillah, who held the charge of Admiral of the Sea, revolted, and declared himself independent at Cadiz, he caused the

Canary
Islands.

Fortunate
Islands.

Mallorca.

idol to be pulled down, and a search to be made for the supposed treasures, but that nothing was found.

In the same sea where the island of Cadiz stands there are others called the eternal (Al-khálidát),2 which are seven in number, and which lie to the west of Salé. These islands may be seen a great distance off at sea, and in clear summer days, when the atmosphere is quite pure and free from vapours or mist, they are discovered rising far above the horizon. According to the geographer Ibnu-l-wardí, there is in each of these islands a tower, one hundred cubits high, on the top of which is an idol of brass, pointing with his hand towards the sea, as if he meant "there is no passage beyond those islands." Ibnu-l-wardí3 adds that he could not remember the name of the king who erected those towers; but we find that Idrísí attributes them to Iskhander dhú-l-karneyn.

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In this sea (Ocean), and further towards the north, are the islands called As-sa'ádát (the fortunate), in which there are many cities and towns, and from whence the Majús, a nation of Christians, came. The nearest of these islands is that of Birtanniyah (Britain), which is placed in the midst of the Ocean, and has no mountains or rivers. The inhabitants drink rain-water, and cultivate the land.

The island of Shaltis,5 which is at the lower end of Andalus, is populated, and has a city which bears its name. The seas in the neighbourhood abound in fish, which is salted and sent to Seville, where the consumption is very great.

Shaltis belongs to the district of Liblah (Niebla), which is contiguous to that of Onóba.

These are the islands of the Ocean; those of the Mediterranean are Algesiras, Tarifa, Mallorca, Menorca, and Iviza, which we shall presently describe.

Algesiras and Tarifa we have already described elsewhere: they are not, properly speaking, islands, but are so called owing to their topographical situation. The same may be said of Shaltis. Further into the sea towards the east are three islands, called Mayórkah (Mallorca), Menórkah (Menorca), and Yébisah (Iviza) ; the two former are at a distance of fifty miles one from the other. That of Mallorca, which is the largest in size, may be traversed in one day from one end to another. The capital is a fine and populous city, and has a canal in which water flows all the year round; but we shall describe this island in the words of Ash-shakandí.

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"The island of Mallorca," says that elegant writer, "is one of the most fertile and best cultivated countries that God ever made; it is also the most abundant in provisions of all kinds; for were it by some accident to be deprived of an "intercourse with other lands, it would still produce every article necessary for "the maintenance or the comfort of its inhabitants. It possesses, besides, many

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other advantages, which we pass in silence for the sake of brevity; suffice it "to say that it has a magnificent capital, well populated towns, extensive districts, good lands, and more water than it requires for the irrigation of its fields; and, lastly, that it has given birth to many eminent ulemas, and illustrious warriors "who have valiantly defended their country from the attacks of the Christians who surround it on every side

"Like a pack of hungry wolves, intent upon their prey."

We think it proper to add here some verses which the poet Ibnu-l-labbénah 6 wrote in honour of the capital of this island.

"It is the city to which the ring-dove has lent the prismatic colours of his "collar, and the peacock his beautiful variegated plumage."

The preceding verses are part of a kassidah which the said Ibnu-l-labbénah addressed to the king who reigned at that time over the island, and who, it appears, did much good to the country, and built more than Iskhander himself ever did.

Next to Mallorca, towards the east, is the island of Menorca, which the author Menorca. of the Ja'rafiyah describes as very small but very fertile, and abounding in grain and fruits of all sorts, especially grapes. He also says that meat in this island is particularly good and well-flavoured, and better than any where else; so much so, that beef, when roasted, will melt as if it were grease, and turn into oil. Sheep abound in the island, but they are of a very small breed.

West of Menorca and Mallorca is another island smaller than either, called Iviza. Yébisah (Iviza). It may be about thirty parasangs in length, and nearly as much in breadth; it supplies great part of Africa propers with wood and salt. The island is well peopled, and the inhabitants are very industrious; the land produces all sorts of grain and fruits, but sheep do not thrive; they have goats, and feed upon their flesh. Raisins, almonds, and figs are among the articles which the inhabitants grow and export to the neighbouring island of Mallorca. Olive trees do not grow in the island; indeed the inhabitants do not know them, and they receive their oil from Andalus.

Besides the above-mentioned islands, there are in this sea (the Mediterranean) many more, such as Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Malta, but, às they never belonged to Andalus, although in the possession of Moslems, we shall abstain from the description of them for brevity's sake; for, indeed, were we to relate all the remarkable things contained in these islands, the wonders of the two seas that surround Andalus, we should neglect the principal object of this our work; in fact, we might as well consecrate a whole volume to the description of them.

VOL. I.

L

The country of the Infidels.

We shall now say a few words about those cities in Andalus which fell early into the hands of the Christians, and where Islámism was rooted up by the obdurate infidels who attribute partners to God. Alas! at the moment we write this the whole of that delightful and highly-gifted country, where the unfurled banners of Islamism waved triumphantly for so many ages, where the sweeping tide of Islám incessantly rolled its mighty waves over the shores of polytheism, and where the unity of the Almighty God and the mission of his holy Prophet were unanimously and daily proclaimed from the tops of countless minarets, is now in the possession of the cruel enemies of God; the heroes who so long withstood the attacks of both Franks and Goths are no more; the virtuous ulemas who instructed the people in the duties of religion, and who opposed their breasts to the impetuous torrents of idolatry, are either scattered over the world, or enjoying in paradise the recompense due to their virtues; the temples once consecrated to Divinity are now places of scandal and impiety, and not one Moslem remains in the vast precincts of Andalus to praise the true God, and to bless by his presence the spots that were once the abode of piety and science. God is great! God is great! There is no strength or power but in God!

Barshelónah (Barcelona), on the eastern coast of Andalus, is situate in a sort of valley formed by the Jebalu-l-bort (the Pyrenees), which separate Andalus from the country of the Franks. Barcelona is close to the sea, and has a harbour, but it is a bad one, and vessels cannot go into it except with a pilot. Barcelona is a middle-sized city, being neither large nor small; it was several times taken by the Christians, and retaken from them, during the first centuries after the conquest, till at last it was ultimately subdued by the infidels 10 in the year 383 of the Hijra (A. D. 993-4), and has since remained in their hands, constituting one of their greatest kingdoms.

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On the opposite side of Andalus, that is to the west, inclining a little towards the north, is the country of Jalikiyah (Galicia), the capital of which is the city of Shant-Yakoh (Santiago). The author of the geographical work entitled Kitábul-'ajáyib (the book of wonders) says that there was in this city a very large church, held in great veneration by the Christians, who considered and worshipped it as the Moslems do Jerusalem. Christians," he adds, "from Constantinople, France, and other infidel countries, came every year to this city, and visited "its church, not because of its being the seat of a patriarch, but because they "pretend that the church was built by one of the Apostles of Jesus, son of Mariam, whose name was Yakoh, others say Yacób; the church which he built was called Shant-Yakoh, that is, the church of Yago, for Shant, in the language "of the Christians, means a temple, a place of worship, and is an equivalent

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of our word mesjid (mosque). Every Christian who comes to this city, and "visits its temple, is held in great respect by his countrymen, his authority increases, and he calls himself hájí (pilgrim). The church is built in the "midst of an island formed by an arm of the sea, and has only one door."

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The same author says that there is in Galicia a lake called Al-buheyratul-meytat 12 (the dead lake), and that that name has its origin in a very wonderful peculiarity of its waters, for no human being, animal, fish, or bird, will live in it, or, if taken thither from other parts of the country, it will die immediately, with the exception of the peacock, which is known to live, and feed, and lay its eggs in it. Ibnu Jezzár, who speaks also of this lake, places it in the heart of Galicia.

tions bordering

Some other cities, like Liyón (Leon), Samórah (Zamora), Banbilónah (Pamplona), Barbarous naare occasionally mentioned by geographers, but we shall not stop to describe them ; on Andalus. let whoever wishes to acquire more information on the subject consult the works of Abú 'Obeyd Al-bekrí, Idrísí, and other writers, who have not only described the cities that were in the hands of the Christians, but given the most ample and circumstantial account of the manners, customs, and habits of their inhabitants. However, as it is important that the reader should know who were the nations of infidels with whom the Andalusian Moslems had to contend for such a length of time, we shall here transcribe the words of the Kátib Ibráhím Ibnu-l-kásim Al-karáwí, known by the surname of Ar-rakik-beladi-l-andalus 13 (the slave of Andalus), who, treating of the barbarous nations who live on the borders of Andalus, expresses himself in the following terms. "The Andalusians are a "brave and warlike people, and great need have they of these qualities, for they "are in continual war with the infidel nations that surround them on every side. "To the west and north they have a nation called Jalalcah (Galicians), whose territories extend from the shores of the Western Ocean all along the Pyrenees. "The Galicians are brave, strong, handsome, and well made; in general the "slaves of this nation are very much prized, and one will scarcely meet in Andalus "with a handsome, well made, and active slave who is not from this country. As no mountains or natural barriers of any kind separate this country from the "Moslem territories, the people of both nations are in a state of continual war "on the frontiers.

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"To the east the Moslems have another powerful enemy to contend with; that "is the Franks, a people still more formidable than the Galicians, on account "of the deadly wars in which they are continually engaged among themselves, "their great numbers, the extent and fertility of their territory, and their great resources. The country of the Franks is well peopled, and full of cities and

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