Instructed by this traitor, the Arab commander caused ten thousand foot
soldiers and four thousand horsemen, commanded by a valiant captain,
named Ibrahim Albuxarra, to be conveyed by sea to the little port of
Adra, at the Mediterranean foot of the mountains. Here they landed, and,
guided by the traitor, penetrated to the heart of the sierra, laying
every thing waste. The brave mountaineers, thus hemmed in between two
armies, destitute of fortresses and without hope of succour, were obliged
to capitulate; but their valour was not without avail, for never, even
in Spain, did vanquished people surrender on prouder or more honourable
terms. We have named the wretch who betrayed his native mountains: let
us equally record the name of him whose pious patriotism saved them from
desolation. It was the reverend Bishop Centerio. While the warriors
rested on their arms in grim and menacing tranquillity among the cliffs,
this venerable prelate descended to the Arab tents in the valley, to
conduct the capitulation. In stipulating for the safety of his people, he
did not forget that they were brave men, and that they still had weapons
in their hands. He obtained conditions accordingly. It was agreed that
they should be permitted to retain their houses, lands, and personal
effects; that they should be unmolested in their religion, and their
temples and priests respected; and that they should pay no other tribute
than such as they had been accustomed to render to their kings. Should
they prefer to leave the country and remove to any part of Christendom,
they were to be allowed to sell their possessions; and to take with them
the money, and all their other effects.[35]
Ibrahim Albuxarra remained in command of the territory, and the whole
sierra, or chain of mountains, took his name, which has since been
slightly corrupted into that of the Alpuxarras. The subjugation of
this rugged region, however, was for a long time incomplete; many of
the Christians maintained a wild and hostile independence, living in
green glens and scanty valleys among the heights; and the sierra of the
Alpuxarras has, in all ages, been one of the most difficult parts of
Andalusia to be subdued.
CHAPTER III.
EXPEDITION OF MAGUED AGAINST CORDOVA.—DEFENCE OF THE PATRIOT PELISTES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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