A Moorish Chronicle 



portal of the mountain fastnesses, curtained, &c.," but that 

 would not give you so true an idea. 



To this pass we rose by weary zig-zags. The rocic-walls 

 at its entrance are precipitous and full of fissures and caves, 

 especially on the left. One of these, "El nido del Moro " 

 (the Moor's nest), high up in the almost perpendicular face 

 of the rock, is said to have been the lair of that celebrated 

 marauder, Sahib-el-Comr, or rather his principal entrance, 

 for the whole mountain was supposed to be perforated 

 with a labyrinth of winding passages leading to and from 

 innumerable vaulted halls. 



STORY OF SAHIB-EL-COMR AND THE 

 QUEEN AELFA.' 



In these caves Sahib and his band dwelt at ease, 

 nourishing their hearts in luxury, and served by the sons 

 and daughters of Eblis. The road from Granada to the 

 sea passed immediately below the nest of this vulture, who, 

 with the claw of rapine, appropriated many of King 

 Ibnulahmar's choicest importations, wherefore that poten- 

 tate sundry times had sharpened for his neck the sword of 

 retribution. 



But the search proved fruitless, and manifold expe- 

 ditions returned, reporting that the Jinns had closed up 

 the old passages against them, and opened others for the 

 depredator's escape. At length, a favourite of the harem, 

 having been dispossessed of several bales of embroidery 

 from Fez, she, being a lady of great spirit, declared that she 

 herself would find a way to chastise the marauder. She 

 first persuaded the old king to close the eyes of circum- 



' Abou Kizeb. — Cronica de los Sultanes de Granada, traducida 

 per Gazmono de Mentiras. 



2l6 



