digested, and the conduct of the invasion was confided to Tarik Ibn Zeyad Ibn Abdillah, a person of great distinction, whose prowess had been noted in the movement to Tangier, and who had been urgent in his counsels to Misa to undertake it.1

There are conflicting accounts of his origin and condition. Some writers represent him to have been a Berber, a mauli or liberated slave of Musa, who had suddenly risen to military eminence. Others make him a free-born man of the tribe of Sadf. He was more probably a native of Hamdám in Persia, and is called in the Spanish histories Tarik el Tuerto or the one eyed.2 He had been military governor of Tangiers, a post which was now confided to Meruan, the son of Musa. The appointment of Tarik to the command increased the enthusiasm of the troops, so that many were obliged to remain behind who were eager to go.

At last all things were ready, and the crossing began. Seven thousand ardent moslemah, the greater part Berbers, with, it is said, at first only three hundred native Arabians, were taken over by the ships, passing and repassing. Some may have set out directly from Ceuta, and a few directly from Tangier, but a considerable number sailed from Tangier to Ceuta and thence over to Spain. Ilyan, at the request of Musa, accompanied the expedition, and provided some of the boats for it. Tarik remained to see the army embark, and was the last man to cross. When he stepped on board, the religious spirit of Musa burst forth. With a devotion worthy of all imitation, he fell on his knees, and prayed with tearful utterance for the success of the expedition. As the boat which carried Tarik was crossing the strait, he fell asleep, and saw in a dream the prophet standing in the midst of those who had shared his flight from Mecca to Medina, and those who had

1 The first expedition led by Tarif has been confounded with that of Tarik which followed; or rather Tarik appears, in Conde and other works as the leader of both. Tarif is ignored. Gayangos establishes the existence of Tarif so fully that we must adopt him, although he never appears in the later history.

* Persona de gran cuenta, dado que faltaba un ojo.—Mar. 11,386.

3 Mariana says that in order to avoid suspicion merchant vessels were used. Mondejar regards this as absurd. There was no marked distinction between merchant and war vessels; and the number rather than the kind of ships would excite astonishment; but the Goths were not ready to resist the landing.

received and protected him in Medina. All were with drawn swords and bent bows, and Mohammed said,—“ Take courage, O Tarik, and accomplish what thou art destined to perform." This was a presage of victory, and was of course at once related to the general's followers, whom it inspired with additional zeal and valor. Whatever credit we may attach to the vision, the effect was indisputable.

It is a puzzling, but fortunately unimportant question, as to the exact spot where Tarik landed. Drinkwater says, but with no appearance of having made careful investigation of the matter: "On the isthmus between Mons Calpe and the continent." That is, on the plain just behind the rock now called "the neutral ground,” exempt at present from either Spanish or English occupancy. There, indeed, he may have deployed his forces, but in moderate weather, and with ordinary precaution, the extremity of the rock was a nearer and easier point, and so it is probable that the majority of the troops landed between Europa point and Little Europa point. On an elevated flat, just above, are the ruins of a Moorish tower or castle. When a portion of it was pulled down, it disclosed the date of its completion as 725, and it was manifestly intended as a cover in case of retreat, and otherwise a stronghold, keeping up communication and signals with Africa.2

Another omen was needed for the troops, and was not wanting. While Tarik was leading the first advance into the open country, he was met by an old woman of Algesiras, whose husband had been a seer. She had heard him predict the conquest, and describe the conqueror-a man of prominent forehead, with a hairy mole on his left shoulder. 3 Tarik bared his shoulder, and displayed the fortunate protuberance.1

The traveler in Spain may readily reproduce to his imagination this celebrated landing of the Arab-Moors on the rock of Gibraltar. Not only is the external nature around, below and above him just as it encircled them, but the illusion is more perfect still. Let him take the steamer from Cadiz to Tangier, and he will arrive

1 Al. Mak., 1,1267.

2 Drinkwater, Capt. John, siege of Gibraltar. 3 A sign of good luck among the Orientals. 4Almak, 1,267.

in the offing, where, from the shallowness of the water, he must go ashore in the rude boats manned by Berbers, both boats and boatmen being but little changed since the days of the conquestflotillas of just such boats took Tarik across-and when his boat nears the shore the water becomes so shoal that stalwart Moors wading out will seize him and carry him in rather unstable equilibrium to the land. In the low houses and narrow streets of the dirty town, rising in amphitheater from the water, he will find the same Oriental life; confined bazaars, the market place, with its asses and camels; Moorish pickpockets, in turban and burnous; veiled and shrouded women, dropping their coverings, when not watched, to display very doubtful charms-just as they, no doubt, displayed them to the impassioned warriors of Tarik. In the turbaned captain of the port his fancy may findi for the time a Musa, son of Nosseyr, superintending the embarkation. Some military Berber who has lost an eye, and there are many such, may figure as Tarik el Tuerto, and some lordly valet de place, with red sandals and bare legs, bearing the name of the false prophet, will usher him into the same Berber life as that of a thousand years ago. Islam, unchanged, dwells in the mosque, barred against the Christian infidel. In a word, in the Tangier of to-day he sees the Tangier of Musa and Tarik. Once more balanced in the arms of wading Berbers, and rocked in their rude boat, he reaches the steamer, and sets out on the track of Tarik. In front is the island of Tarifa; before him to the right soon rises in elephantine proportions the famous Rock, then, and since, a mountain of histories. He passes Europa point to his safe harbor behind the mole. Then he climbs the mountain to the signal tower, and from its needle-like elevation, he looks upon an exquisite picture of nature and of history, a complete map of the famous strait. At his feet far below is Europa point, jutting out in greeting to the African promontory; on his right the bay of Gibraltar; opposite, on the African coast, the town of Ceuta gleams white against its seven hills. Nor is it only a map, but a beautifully colored map-the green and gray of the Spanish shore, the deep, deep blue of the Mediterranean; the lighter perspective blue of Africa, clearly defined-all gently checkered perhaps by the varying shadows of the clouds which are scudding under the sun. As he gazes it needs no vivid imagination to see the wonderful drama of the conquest

unfolding. The numerous vessels, in bay and sea, are the fleet of Tarik; the drum-beat and trumpets of the British band, playing upon the Alameda, rise fitfully to his ear, and are pressed into fancy's service as the clanging horns and kettle-drums of the ArabMoors. Centuries recede, and he stands on the rock of Tarik, at the coming of Tarik; and sees, and feels, and keeps time, with pulse and foot to the grand quickstep which is ushering Arabian civilization into Spain.

The landing of Tarik was completed on Thursday, April 30, 711, (8th Regeb., A. H. 92); and the rock upon which he set foot was called by his enthusiastic followers Jebel Tarik,2 which has become Gibraltar. It also appears, however, in the Arab chronicles as Jebalu-1-Fatah-the portal or entrance, or mountain of victory. Some weak resistance or show of it on the part of the inhabitants quickly gathered together from fear and curiosity, was at once put down, and perhaps necessitated the landing of portions of the army at different points.

The story that Tarik burnt his boats to take away all hope of retreat is neither new nor true, notwithstanding its appearance in the annals of the Nubian biographer. It is but a device to exaggerate the Arabian hardihood and valor. It is far more likely that they were kept plying between the continents, and held in readiness to bring over the reinforcements, which would soon be needed, and to keep open constant communication with Musa.4

The movements which preceded and brought on the decisive battle are confused and obscure; nor are we even certain as to the persons who first led the Goths to confront the Moors and dispute their further progress. A valiant Goth called Theodo

1 For the date of the landing, which has been differently stated by numerous authors, see the elaborate note of Gayangos 1,522, fixing the date as given above

2 Mons Abyla was named either in honor of the ancient Moses, or the modern Musa, Jebel Musa, but it lacked a European celebrity to immortalize it. 3 Sherif Edrisi.

4 Burning ships did good service for Julian at the Euphrates, and afterward for Cortes at Vera Cruz, but the former did it under strong necessity to keep the fleet from falling into the hands of the garrison of Ctesiphon, and the latter had no possible use for his, save a caravel to bear tidings to Spain.

mir, governor of South-eastern Andalusia, appears dimly upon the scene at the head of a hasty levy of seventeen hundred men, watching the advance, and sending despatches to Roderik. In many of the chronicles Theodomir becomes Sancho and in others Sancho is Iñigo. The number of Christian names given to one person by the later Spaniards renders it not improbable that these were all names of the same leader, especially as Sancho is mentioned as a cousin of the king. Be this as it may, the danger had become imminent, and one or more reconnoitering parties were informing Roderik of the Moslem advance. They told him the astounding news of an army which might have "dropped from heaven or sprung up through the earth," so sudden and unexpected was the apparition. "And now, my lord," said Theodomir, "since the matter is thus, I entreat you to succor us with all speed, and with the largest force you can muster. Come yourself also in person, for that will be better than all."

This despatch, handed down by tradition, did not find Roderik at Toledo. He had taken the advice of Julian and sent a force to the northern frontier, and while Theodomir was retreating before. the advance of Tarik, Roderik was in person quelling an insurrection at Pampeluna, incited, it is suggested, by the party of the sons of Wittiza. As soon as the momentous news reached him, he exhibited much of his earlier energy and fire. He sent in all directions throughout the kingdom to levy troops. All who were of age were required to join the standard'. and follow his rapid advance southward. The first concentration was at Cordova, and here Roderik reviewed a large but motley force, the characterstics of which differ according to the nationality of the chronicler. To the Arabians it seemed good to exalt the equipment of an army which they were to conquer, and so we are told that the force of the Gothic monarch was fully provided with all kinds of weapons and military stores.2 The Spanish historian, on the other hand, seeks for some solace in their defeat, by an exaggeration of their weak and miserable condition. "What a force!" he exclaims. "The army was composed of all sorts of rubbish, gathered without discrimination; with but little drill; they had

1 Mar., II. 389.

2 Al Makk, I. 269.