(( towns; it is generally designated by geographers under the name of Ardhu-l"kebírah (the great land). The Franks are stronger and braver than the Galicians, -they are likewise more numerous, and can send larger armies into the field. They make war on a certain nation bordering on their territory, and from "whom they dissent in manners and religion; these are the Sclavonians, whose "land the Franks invade, and, making captives of them, bring them to be sold "to Andalus, where they are to be found in great numbers. The Franks are in "the habit of making eunuchs of them, and taking them to castles and other places of safety in their territory, or to points of the Moslem frontier, where "the Andalusian merchants come to buy them, to sell them afterwards in other "countries. However, some of the Moslems who live in those parts (near to "the frontiers) have already learnt that art from the Franks, and now exercise it quite as well as they do." 14

CHAPTER VI.

Ruins and ancient remains-The Aqueduct of Tarragona-that of Cadiz-Roman causeways-Idol of Cadiz The pit of Cabra-Iron pot of Kal'atu-Aurád-Ancient tradition concerning the conquest of Andalus-Extraordinary olive tree-Water-clocks of Toledo.

ABU 'OBEYD AL-BEKRI says that Andalus contains ruins of buildings erected by the Greeks, and talismans constructed by their philosophers: he includes in the number of these the tower of Cadiz, that of Galicia, the amphitheatre of Murbiter (Murviedro), the water-works of Tarragona, the bridge of the sword, and many other stupendous buildings scattered all over the country; and which that author asserts are for the most part attributed to one of the ancient kings of Andalus, whose name was Herkiles (Hercules).

Tarragona.

of Cadiz.

Some of these structures are fully described by Ibnu Ghalib in the historical work Aqueduct at entitled "Contentment of the soul in the contemplation of the ancient remains found in Andalus," as for instance the aqueduct of Tarragona, which he says conveyed the water from the sea to the city by a gentle level, and in the most admirable order, and served to put in motion all the mill-stones in the town, the whole being one of the most solid, magnificent, and best contrived buildings that ever were erected.1 Another wonderful aqueduct was that of Cadiz, which conveyed fresh water Aqueduct from a spring in the district of the idols to the island of Cadiz, crossing an arm of the Ocean. It consisted of a long line of arches, and the way it was done was this: whenever they came to high ground, or to a mountain, they cut a passage through it; when the ground was lower they built a bridge over arches; if they met with a porous soil they laid on a bed of gravel for the passage of the water; when the building reached the sea shore the water was made to pass under ground, and in this way it reached Cadiz. That part of the aqueduct nearest to the sea Ibnu Sa'id tells us was still visible at the time he wrote.3

Another of the vestiges of the ancient kings of Andalus were the causeways Roman causewhich traversed it in all its length. "We read," says Ibnu Ghálib, "in some of the

ways.

Idol of Cadiz.

"histories of Rome that when Julius, known by the surname of Heshar (Cæsar), began to reign, he ordered the earth to be measured, and roads to be constructed. According to his injunctions causeways were made from Rome to the east, west, "north, and south of the earth, until they reached half the circumference of the globe. One of these causeways led to Andalus, and ended to the east of Cordova, "near the gate of 'Abdi-l-jabbár. Another, beginning at the gate of Al-kantarah "(the bridge), south of that city, led to Shakandah, Estijah (Ezija), Karmónah (Carmona), Seville, and the sea.* Both these roads were by the orders of Julius provided with mile-stones, on which his own name, that of the city to "which the road led, and the distance from Rome, were engraved; they say also "that he ordered that the mile-stones should be furnished with a roof in some parts of the road, intending them as halting-places for travellers, who might shelter themselves from the rays of the sun in summer, and from cold and "rain in winter; but that these buildings being in the course of time converted into places of corruption and iniquity, and into so many haunts frequented by "robbers and vagabonds, owing to their situation in the midst of uninhabited districts, and far from towns, the work was discontinued, and the mile-stones "left in the state in which they are at present.'

The author of the Kitábu-l-ja'rafiyah 5 has furnished us with details concerning the tower of Cadiz. We shall quote his own words. In this city," he says, (meaning Cadiz) "there formerly stood a square tower, upwards of one hundred "cubits high, and built of large blocks of stone, admirably placed one on the "top of another, and fastened together by hooks of brass. On the top of the "tower was a square pedestal of white marble, measuring four spans, and on it a "statue representing a human being, so admirably executed in form, proportions, "and face, that it looked more like a living man than an inanimate block. His "face was turned towards the Western Sea; he had his back to the north;7 "the left arm extended, and the fingers closed, with the exception of the forefinger, which he held in a horizontal position, pointing towards the mouth of "that sea which issues out of the Ocean, and lies between Tangiers and Tarifa, being known by the name of Bahru-z-zokák (the Straits of Gibraltar). His right arm was close to the body, as if holding his garments tightly, and in "the right hand he bore a stick, with which he pointed towards the sea. Some "authors pretend that what he held were keys, but it is a mis-statement; I saw the idol often, and could never discover any thing else but the above"mentioned stick, which he held in his right hand in a vertical position, and "somewhat raised from the ground; besides, I am assured by the testimony of trustworthy people, who were present or assisted at the pulling down of this

idol, that it was a short stick, of about twelve spans in length, having at the "end some teeth like a curry-comb. Who was the builder of this tower, with "the idol on the top, does not sufficiently appear. Mes'údí, in his Golden Meadows,' attributes its construction to Al-jabbár," the same who built the 'seven idols in the country of Zinj, which are one in sight of the other but "the most probable opinion seems to be that it was built by some of the ancient kings of Andalus to serve as a guide to navigators, from the fact of the idol having his left arm extended towards the Bahru-z-zokák (straits), and pointing "to the mouth, as if he was showing the way. There were not wanting people "who thought this idol to be made of pure gold; for whenever the rising or setting sun fell on the statue it sent forth rays of light, and shone in the brightest hues, like the collar of a ring-dove, blue being the colour which prevailed. Thus placed on the top of the tower the idol was like a signal for the Moslem navigators to go in and out of the Ocean, and whoever wanted to "sail from any port in the Mediterranean to places in Al-maghreb, such as Lisbon, and others, had only to approach the tower, and then put up the sails, and "make for the port whither they wished to go, whether Salé, Anfa,10 or any "other in the western coast of Africa. When in after times this idol was pulled down, it ceased of course to be a signal for navigators: its demolition happened "thus. In the year 540 (A. D. 1145-6), at the beginning of the second civil war, "'Alí Ibn 'Isa Ibn Maymún," who was Admiral of the Fleet, revolted at Cadiz, and declared himself independent. Having heard the inhabitants say that the idol on the top of the tower was made of pure gold, his cupidity was raised, and he gave "orders for its immediate removal. The statue was accordingly brought down by " dint of great exertions, and when on the ground was found to be made of brass, "covered only with a thin coat of gold, which, when removed, produced twelve thousand gold dinárs. It is a general opinion among Andalusian and African Moslems that this idol exercised a sort of spell over the sea, but that the charm ceased the moment it was thrown down. They account for it in the following manner. There used once to be in the Ocean some large vessels which the Andalusians call karákir,12 provided with a square sail in front, and another "behind; they were manned by a nation called Majús, people of great strength, determination, and much practice in navigation, and who at their landing on the coasts destroyed every thing with fire and sword, and committed unheard-of ravages and cruelties, so that at their appearance the inhabitants fled with their valuables to the mountains, and the whole coast was depopulated. The in"vasions of these barbarians were periodical-they took place every six or seven "years; the number of their vessels was never less than forty, it sometimes

46

Pit of Cabra.

Iron pot at
Kal'atu-Aurád.

"amounted to a hundred; 13 they devoured any one they found on the sea.

The

"tower that I have described was known to them, and, following the direction pointed at by the idol, they were enabled to make at all times for the mouth "of the straits, and enter the Mediterranean, ravage the coasts of Andalus, and "the islands close to it, sometimes carrying their depredations as far as the coasts "of Syria. But when the idol was destroyed by the command of 'Alí Ibn Maymún, as I have already stated, no more was heard of these people, nor were their "karákir (vessels) seen in these seas, with the exception of two that were wrecked on the coast, one at Mersu-l-Majús (the port of the Majús), and the other close "to the promontory of Al-aghar."

14

Among the wonders of Andalus one is the pit of Kabrah (Cabra), which, in the opinion of Ar-rází, who mentions it, is one of the gates of the winds. It is to be seen at some distance from Cabra,15 and whatever efforts have been made to find the bottom of it have proved ineffectual.

Ibnu Sa'id also mentions a mountain in the neighbourhood of Kal'atu-Aurád 16 where, says he, is a rock with a wide gap, and within it an iron pot hanging by a chain. Whoever goes to the spot will see it, his hands will touch it, but all his attempts to take it out will be fruitless; for no sooner will his hands come in contact with it than the pot will sink in the cavity of the rock and disappear; however, if the person desists from his undertaking it will return to its former position. This is related by Ibnu Sa'id on the authority of Ibnu Bashkúwál, who, among some ancient traditions, and other wonderful stories, concerning Andalus, mentions the following:

"It has been related to us on the authority of a traditionist, who had it from Seyf, that 'Othmán Ibn 'Affán said that the conquest of Constantíniyeh (Constantinople) would be made from Andalus.' Perhaps he meant Rome instead of Constantinople, but God is all-knowing."

Such are the words of Ibnu Bashkúwál; but this point requires elucidation. The tradition to which that illustrious writer alludes stands thus. 'Othmán is said to have sent an army from Cairwán to the conquest of Andalus, and to have written to the generals who were to command the expedition: "Know ye how the conquest " of Constantinople shall be made, passing first through Andalus; so, if ye quickly "subdue those regions whither ye are bound, ye shall participate of the favours " of God." Such is the tradition; but let the responsibility of it lie on its preservers, for as to us, we wish to be considered entirely pure and free from it; for although it be true that it has been adopted and repeated by Ibnu Bashkúwál, by Ibnu Sa'íd, and other respectable writers, yet we cannot give credit to it, for it is not only improbable, but entirely devoid of foundation. For at what