Maksura and Almimbar began to move forward, each on its own side, and both advancing on their wheels with infinite quietude and dignity. The arms or divisions alike extended themselves without any discord or failure in the exactitude of the movements, gradually placing themselves in perfect silence within convenient positions of the principal chapel.

To the Almimbar there was furthermore added machinery of such a kind that as the Chatib or preacher ascended the steps of the same, the door gradually opened, and when he had entered, it closed in like manner, softly and without any cause of that effect being seen or heard,—such was the perfect action which had been given to those admirable machines. The king, with his guards and household, could also ascend to his Maksura, and return with the same facility.

These wonderful works were performed by the renowned artificer Alhaus Yahix, of Malaga, the same who constructed the fortress of Gebal Tarik, also by order of Abdelmumen Ben Aly. The extraordinary art exhibited in these machines was celebrated in elegant verses by the Chatib Abu Bekir Ben Murber of Fehra. The poem, which is a long one, contains a passage to the following effect :

Happy art thou, if, to the royal house

:

Of him whose hand, extended o'er the nations,
Protects and shelters all, thy lord shall call thee.
Happy if to those walls thou mayst approach
Where dwells our sovereign; he, whose liberal heart
Embracing all, seeks most the wise and learned,
The cunning workman, as the sage sublime
Of varied lore; duly rewarding each.

There, secret most prodigious! shalt thou find
Machines that reason, or that move as beings
Endowed with sense and will. Portals are there
Of fair proportion, opening, as the step

Of their known lord approaches them. They haste
To give him entrance, nor refuse the same

To such as he hath graced to follow him

His nobles and viziers. More shalt thou see

Machines that move to meet him as he nears them

Attentive to his wish, and stealing forth

Silently to receive their potent lord.

Nay, when he turns to leave them, they retire,
Anticipating still the wish he forms.

Calm and majestic, as their glorious master
So do they seem. Of fair and varied form
Is every part. Noble and graceful movements
Distinguish all; their beauty regular

And lovely as the moon, what time she paces

Soft through the star-strewn vaults of the fair heaven.

Without the city, King Abdelmumen Ben Aly caused a pleasant garden to be planted; the extent thereof was three miles in either direction, the ground forming a square, and in it were excellent fruits, both sweet and acid, of every kind known, so that nothing remained to be desired therein. For his garden Abdelmumen caused water to be conducted from Agmat, and with that water he constructed several fine fountains. Aben Iza Ben Ahmed Ben Muza, who was at Morocco in the year 543, declares that the produce of the olives in that garden were then farmed at a rent of thirty thousand Almumini doubloons, and that this sum was considered to be a moderate one when taken in relation with the value of those fruits.

In that same year of 543 the King of Sicily took possession of the city of Mehedra with those of Sifakis, Bona, and others, to the great loss of the Moslemah.

About this time Abdelmumen Ben Aly directed his march on Sigilmesa, which surrendered by capitulation, having received promise of security for the lives of the inhabitants. The king then returned to Morocco, but did not remain there many days, having determined on a campaign against the people of Beni Guete, with whom he had many obstinate conflicts he finally defeated their forces, nor would Abdelmumen consent to remove his sword from above their heads until he had totally destroyed them.

Affairs were in that state when the inhabitants of Cebta rose against the Almohades, and expelled them from their city. This they did after having accepted Abdelmumen Ben Aly as their lord, proclaimed him in their streets, and received numerous benefits at his hands, seeing that the king had repaired their walls, restored their mosques, and conferred other favours upon them. It was in pursuance of the counsels of their Cadi Ayadh Ben Muza that the people of Cebta rose in rebellion, and having done so they fell suddenly on the Almohades, slaying all on whom they

could lay hands; they suffered none to escape save only those who had the good fortune to receive timely warning, and so took flight. The principal men of the Almohades the rebels are even accused of having burnt alive.

The Cadi Ayadh Muza then embarked in the port, and passed over into Spain to require succours from the General Abu Zacaria Aben Gania, who gave him a body of troops, commanded by El Darawi, who was a very brave and able captain.

With these auxiliaries Ayadh Muza then returned to Cebta; and the Andalusians had no sooner entered the city than its inhabitants proclaimed Abu Zacaria Aben Gania their Wali. The Andalusian general was now joined by Aben Gueta, and together they went forth against the forces of the king, Abdelmumen Aben Aly. The two armies having joined battle, Abdelmumen defeated and routed the rebels most effectually, slaying the greater part of them, and taking very many prisoners. El Darawi escaped with life, and then wrote letters to Abdelmumen Ben Aly requesting to be admitted among the number of his subjects; whereupon the king granted what he desired, and El Darawi took the oath of allegiance, acknowledging Abdelnumen Ben Aly as his lord.

When the people of Cebta heard of this, they considered themselves to be but lost men, and sent messengers to the king declaring that they had cast themselves trembling at his feet, and entreating forgiveness. Abdelmumen received their submission with much satisfaction, and did in fact consent to forgive them, as well as their Cadi Ayadh Muza, but he commanded that the walls of their city should be demolished.

At the same period the defences of Mekinesa were likewise razed to the ground by order of Abdelmumen Ben Aly, who had held that place in a sort of siege for nearly seven years; but having entered it by force of arms on Wednesday, the third day of the Moon Giumada Primera, in the year 543, he put the greater part of the inhabitants to the sword, deprived those whose lives he spared of one-fifth of all they possessed, and after he had first permitted his troops to subject the city to plunder and sack, he caused it to be utterly destroyed.

CHAP. XLII.-THE ALMOHADES TAKE CORDOVA AND OTHER CITIES OF ANDALUSIA.

In this year the Almohades laid siege to Cordova, which was then held by Aben Gania, who defended the place with admirable valour. Every day the besieged made sorties, which ended in the most obstinate conflicts, and many were the surprises which they also prepared for their enemy. But after a sanguinary struggle the General Aben Gania became convinced that the place could not be much longer maintained; he therefore departed secretly on a certain day when his people had had a skirmish with the besiegers, and repaired to Granada, leaving his Wali Yahye Ben Aly Ben Aasa in Cordova, which that officer did not defend long after his lord had left it; on the contrary, he made an agreement with the Almohades, to whom he surrendered the place with the sole condition of safety for the lives of the Almoravides. The latter then evacuated the city, taking refuge for the most part in Cormona; but a certain portion of their number proceeded to Granada, with their Wali Yabye Ben Aly Ben Aasa.

The general of the Almohades then took possession of Cordova, which he entered in the name of Abdelmumen Ben Aly, and the Chotba was made for that monarch in the Great Aljame, when the latter had been purified for the purpose. The previous Mushaf of Othman Ben Afan was then also restored, and put in order to be presented to the King, Abdelmumen Ben Aly.

And now the Almoravide general, Aben Gania, perceiving well that his own forces would not suffice effectually to encounter those of Abdelmumen Ben Aly, King of the Almohades, entreated the aid of his former ally and friend, the Embelatur, even Alfonso, King of Toledo, when the latter sent him a body of cavalry, commanded by the Count of Almanrik. With that reinforcement to the people of his own territories Aben Gania then went forth to seek the Almohades, but perceiving that his General Yahye Ben Aly discouraged the hearts of his troops by insisting on the great bravery and dexterity in the use of their arms, which were exhibited by the Almohade cavaliers, Aben Gania was

no longer able to endure his presence; wherefore he one day drew his scimitar and struck off the head of Yahye Ben Aly at one blow, exclaiming as he did so, “This ought I to have done before I confided to thy craven hand the defence of Cordova."

Arrived in the district of Jaen, Abu Zacaria Aben Gania had various conflicts with the Almohades, whom he opposed with varying fortunes, but after a time, the forces of Abdelmumen Ben Aly having obtained possession of Carmona, united all their bands, and ventured to advance upon the Vega of Granada: entering this district, therefore, they destroyed the crops, cut up the cultivated grounds, and carried devastation whithersoever they appeared.

Abu Zacaria Aben Gania then determined to hazard a general battle, and the combat was a very fierce one; but Aben Gania himself was so grievously wounded by thẹ many thrusts of the Almohade lances, which had pierced through his armour, that he died of those injuries immediately after; on Friday namely, the 21st day of the Moon Xuban in the year 543. He was interred at Cazbe Baz in the Makbira of Badis Ben Habus, King of Granada. To the Almoravides the death of Abu Zacaria Aben Gania was the source of much sorrow, seeing that in him ended that series of Almoravide generals who have left so splendid a trace in story, with the memory of so many glorious and heroic deeds. It was by this illustrious general that the battle of Fraga was won from the Christians, and wherein the bravest of the infidel kings, Alfonso, monarch of two kingdoms, was slain: it is true that his fame was somewhat obscured by an alliance with the Christians, from which he had sought aid during that war of Anfitnat which we are now describing.

In the following year of 544, the Almohades occupied many cities of Andalusia, and arrived before Medina Jaen, which they besieged; but the city surrendered on certain conditions, and the Almohades having made good their entrance, the Chotba for King Abdelmumen Ben Aly was made in the mosques thereof.

Or as Alabar says, on Thursday, the 10th of that month.-Condé.
Alfitna: proof, or trial.