Yahye El Saltixi, who was called Alcabela, a person in whom he placed great confidence.

Now Ahmed Ben Husein Aben Cosai had the fairest hopes of being early enabled to advance his interests in the city of Cordova, because he was assured by certain of his partizans, Abul Hasen Ben Mumen, for example, and some others who dwelt in the suburb of the Axarquia, and were among the principal inhabitants, that the doing so would be matter of no difficulty.

The general Omar Ben Almondar, with his companion, the Saltixi Alcabela, had meanwhile set themselves on their way, as we have said, with the troops of Xelbe and Libla; but before reaching the place they received intelligence that the crafty Aben Hud Seif-Dolah had forestalled them, having won over and been proclaimed by the citizens, not of Cordova only, but of several other towns.

During this time, the nephew of Aben Gania, Abdallah Ben Muhamad, had committed grievous devastations in the city of Valencia, making frequent incursions thereon from his stronghold of Xativa, and cutting up the fields of the immediate Comarca, with its pleasant and beautiful gardens, all of which caused the people of Valencia not a little vexation and anxiety. They consequently turned their thoughts on the illustrious General Abu Abdelmelik Meruan Abdelaziz, whom they entreated to defend and protect them from the attacks of Abdallah Ben Mohamad: but that noble Xeque excused himself, because he dreaded the inconstancy of the populace, and had no confidence in the principal citizens of Valencia, by whom the desire of the people was laid before him; nay, when Abu Meruan Abdelaziz saw that the popu lace of Valencia had put to death many of the Almoravides who had remained in their city after the flight therefrom of the Wali Abdallah Ben Muhamad, nephew of Aben Gania, he first concealed himself, and finally fled the place, taking refuge in Xativa, with a large number of his followers. Yet, having arrived there, he was at length persuaded to think of the duty which he owed to the commonwealth, and was prevailed on to resign his private convenience to the general welfare. That change in his opinions was effected by Abdallah Ben Mardanis, with Abu Muhamad Abdallah Ben Ayaub, Alcayde of the frontier, a person of much

credit and authority. These men prevailed on Abdelaziz to accept the perilous command proposed to him by the people of Valencia, and moved by the many instances made to him, he returned to that city, where he was proclaimed on the 3rd day of the moon Xawal, in the year 539.

Abu Abdelmelic Aben Meruan Ben Abdelaziz then entrusted the care of the Comarcas and the frontier to Abdallah Ben Ayadh, the Alcayde, who instantly occupied himself with the security of his own possessions in that district, as well as with that of the domains held by his son-in-law, Abdallah Ben Mardains, all which he laboured to defend against the Lamtumas and other Almoravides who were assembling troops in the land of Albacite, and had fortified themselves in the strongholds of that district.

CHAP. XXXV.-THE INSURRECTIONS OF THE MOSLEMAH ARE CONTINUED.

Now Abu Giafar Hamdain Ben Muhamad Ben Hamdain having succeeded in winning over the people of Cordova for the second time, returned to that city twelve days after he had left it, making his entry on the 10th of Dylhagia, in the year 539. He was then again proclaimed amidst the general rejoicing of the people, while in various cities of Andalusia his kinsmen and partizans likewise declared him to be their lord. His Alchatib or secretary for example, Achil Ben Edris of Ronda namely, caused him to be proclaimed in that city, which was the native place of Achil, who took possession of its inaccessible fortress in Abu Giafar's name, and occupying at the same time the cities of Arcos, Xeris, and Sidonia, he caused the new sovereign to be proclaimed in those places also.

With respect to Murcia, the Alcayde of Cuenca, Abdallah El Trograi, took measures for making himself master of that province, when the news of Abu Giafar's rebellion had reached him, intending to join himself to the party of Hamdain; but on arriving in the city he found that the people had been in a state of insurrection from the 17th day of Ramazan, and were still undecided as to which of

their principal Xeques they should select for their chief, their choice being suspended between Muhamad Ben Abderahman Ben Tahir El Kisi, who was one of the nobles of Tadmir, Abu Muhamad Ben Alhaug Lurki, and Abderahman Ben Giafar Ben Ibrahim. The populace had, indeed, already proclaimed Abu Giafar Ben Hamdain, of Cordova, their king, but desired to appoint Muhamad Ben Alhaug his administrator,-an office which the moderation of his views induced that Noble to decline.

The arrival of the Alcayde of Cuenca, Abdallah Ben Fetâh El Thograi, changed the face of things, and his party named Abu Giafar Ben Abu Giafar, Cadi of Murcia. This man commenced his rule on Tuesday, the 15th of Xawal, in the year 539, and had no sooner done so than his ambitious desire for power induced him to excite the people against the Almoravides, whom they treacherously attacked after having given them assurances of security. That done, and acting under the orders of those who led the party of Abu Giafar Ben Abu Giafar, the populace proclaimed that Cadi their Ameer, appointing Abu Alabas Ben Helal to be Cadi, and Abdallah Ben Fetah El Thograi, Alcayde of the cavalry. There was no man found equal to opposing these measures; and thus this Abdallah, under the pretext of proclaiming Abu Giafar Ben Hamdain, exalted himself, occupying the Alcazar and calling himself the Ameer Anasir Ledinallah: but his sovereignty endured but a very short time, as we shall presently see.

In Valencia, the noble Xeque Abdelmelek Ben Abdelaziz occupied himself with the cares of assembling an army wherewith to march forth against the Almoravides, who had fortified themselves in the Alcazaba of Xatina, and being led by Abdallah, the nephew of Aben Gania, were devastating the country even up to the gates of Valencia, plundering and burning the farms, carrying the women away captive, and causing ruin whithersoever they appeared. Having gathered his forces, therefore, Abdelaziz sallied forth, and on the 28th of Xawal he sat down before Xativa, sending at the same time to demand assistance from the Wali of Murcia, Abu Giafar Muhamad Ben Abdallah Ben Abu Giafar. On the last day of Xawal, the blockade of the place was rendered complete, and the Almoravides

found themselves closely shut up in Xativa, when they prepared to make an obstinate resistance, and defended themselves with much valour.

But now occurred new changes in Murcia, where the party of Abdallah El Thograi and Abderahman Aben Tahir or El Kisi, once more aroused the people to insurrection, and proclaimed the lately exiled monarch, Aben Meruan Aben Hud Seif Dolah. This they did towards the end of the Moon Xawal, in this same year of 539; and the result of the combats which ensued between the partizans of Abu Giafar and those of El Thograi was, that the last-mentioned general was taken prisoner and cast into a dungeon with many of his followers. The Alcadia of the cavalry which had been held by Abdallah El Thograi was then bestowed on Zoamun of Auriola, Aben Tahir and Aben Alhaug leaving the city, whereupon the Fakir Abu Giafar Muhamad Ben Abdallah Ben Abu Giafar El Chuseni assumed the chief authority in the state, making himself master of Tadmir likewise, which he retained during the remainder of that year, and held for the first two months of the year which followed. He maintained, nevertheless, that he had seized the command with no other purpose than that of preserving the liberties of the people against the Almoravides, and made instant preparation for proceeding with his partizans to the aid of Abu Meruan Abdelmelik Ben Abdelaziz, who was then besieging the Lamtunas, and other Almoravide troops in Xativa, as before related.

But Abu Giafar had not well joined the camp of Abdelaziz, and his people had scarcely begun to take their part in the skirmishes which were daily fought around the town, before he received intelligence from Murcia to the effect that a new insurrection had broke forth in that city, where the party of Aben Tahir had found means to excite the people, and had set Abdallah El Thograi at liberty. Thereupon he departed with his cavalry from the siege of Xativa, and by forced marches arrived at Murcia, where he made good his entrance by intelligence with certain of those in authority, and once again obtained possession of the fortress. But he could not get El Thograi into his hands, that leader having secretly fled the place, threatening

vengeance against Abu Giafar, who had no sooner tranquillized the people than he returned with all speed to Xativa.

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About the same time there were certain partizans of Abu Giafar Hamdain Ben Muhamad Ben Hamdain dwelling in Granada, who excited the people against the Almoravides, nor could all the authority of the Wali avail to restrain them that Wali was Aly Ben Abi Bekir, the son of a sister of King Aly Ben Juzef, and was called Aben Finwa, from the name of his mother. The troubles in Algarve were meanwhile fully occupying the General Abu Zacaria Yahye Ben Aly Aben Gania, with the greater part of the Almoravide troops composing his army; a state of things which enabled the Cadi of Granada, Abu Muhamad Ben Simek, to arouse the people against the Almoravides of the garrison, when the tumultuous populace proclaimed Abu Giafar Ben Hamdain Ben Muhamad Ben Hamdain their king. Nor could the Almoravide generals restrain the insurrection, but were compelled themselves to retire within the Alcazaba, where they fortified their position as they best could. During the first eight days of the rebellion frequent skirmishes were fought between the Almoravides and the inhabitants, the people making repeated assaults on the fortress, and the valiant Almoravides sallying forth upon them with terrible fury. In one of the sanguinary combats which then ensued, the Cadi Abu Muhamad Ben Simek was slain, when the citizens and party of Abu Giafar Ben Hamdain appointed Abul Hasan Ben Adha his successor. This Abul Hasan was a man of infinite craft, who had found means to stand well with all parties; wherefore, on this occasion also, pursuing the guidance of the passing event, and following the breath of fortune then blowing, he declared against the Almoravides, demanding aid from the rebel Cadies of Cordova, Jaen, and Murcia, whom he called on to assist him in the expulsion of the Almoravide garrison from the Alcazaba of Granada.