terrified infidels obeyed; and ninety prisoners found on board were liberated. When Khair-ad-din came to these islands,[35] a report had been spread that his intention was to plunder them, and the inhabitants were in consequence greatly alarmed. The governor, in order to comfort them, sent them a prisoner dressed like the pasha, with a message that the king, having taken Barbarossa, had sent him to them that they might burn him. The captive was accordingly burnt, and this gave occasion to the salute. When however the capture of Minorca was made known, the circumstance afforded a source of ridicule to the captives. CAPTURE OF THE CASTLE OF MINORCA[36]. Khair-ad-din having landed his men, laid siege to this castle; and when the attack had lasted four days, the governor of the island came out with six thousand infidels, when, after a furious engagement, he was routed, and his horse being hamstrung, he fell, and was killed on the spot. The infidels, seeing this, surrendered the castle. Khair-ad-din then abandoned the wealth of the place to the plunder of his warriors. Five thousand seven hundred prisoners were taken, and eight hundred were killed: and on the sixth day Khair-ad-din rased the fortress and returned to Algiers. CAUSE OF THE COWARDICE OF THE INFIDELS. At the last-mentioned siege the Moslems had to resist the infidel begs for some days, on account of their superior numbers: for had they not possessed this advantage, they would not have fought in the position which Khair-ad-din had taken; since it is written in their books that it is lawful to fall alive into the enemy’s hand, and that they who fall in battle do not enter paradise; their learned men also teach this doctrine. It is related that Andrea Doria once asked a learned captive the reason why our race were so brave in battle. The captive replied that it was a miracle performed by our prophet, because that whoever received his faith became brave, and would draw his sword even against his own relatives. Andrea asked a farther reason, but the captive could not give him any other, and said he knew no more on the subject. Andrea then said, “Is it not written in your books that whoever flies from battle goes to hell, and that if a person flies from two infidels he cannot enter paradise? These are the words that make the Moslems so brave. Now in our books it is written, that if a thousand men should be attacked by one Moslem, and they know they are to be killed by him, they need not fight him, because those who die in battle do not enter paradise. This it is that makes us so cowardly.” This doctrine is also taught by the Pope; the infidel soldiers however fight till they die, caring little about a future state. The author has questioned several learned men among the Christians on this subject, and has ascertained that the case is not as stated by Andrea, who being an ignorant fellow and unacquainted with books, spoke only his own ideas of the matter.