CONQtlEST OF AFRICA AND SPAIN. 393 



tious policy of Walid, he ordered the count to make 

 the first hostile experiment himself; and accord- 

 ingly, with a body of troops collected from his own 

 government, he made a predatory descent (July, 

 710) with two ships on the coast of the Verdant 

 Island, for so the Arabs termed the opposite shore at 

 Algesiras, near which stood the town and castle of 

 Julian. Musa despatched a second expedition of 

 500 troops, under one of his officers, Tarifa, who 

 effected a landing at a spot which still bears his name ; 

 and penetrating into the country, they carried ofiF 

 much plunder, among which was a female captive, 

 more beautiful than any the Saracens had yet beheld. 

 In his residence at Tangier, Musa contmued with 

 success to hasten his preparations ; and in the ensu- 

 ing spring (A. D. 711), 7000 men were embarked, 

 under the command of Tarik, already distinguished 

 as a brave and skilful soldier. The place where 

 they landed was at IMount Calpe, one of the Pillars 

 of Hercules ; and in its modern appellation of Gib- 

 raltar (Gebel al Tarik, or Hill of Tarik) the name of 

 the hero is still preserved. Here he formed his first 

 camp, the intrenchments of which were the original 

 outline of those fortifications that have rendered 

 this singular rock so important as a military station 

 in the hands of Britain. By getting possession of 

 Algesiras, the port of Andalusia, Tarik opened a 

 passage into the country, which he subdued as far as 



Cadiz. 



When intelhgence of the descent and progress of 

 the Saracens was conveyed to Roderick, he was en- 

 gaged in a war against the insurgent Bascons, in the 

 district of Pampeluna. The defeat of his lieutenant, 

 Edeco, whom he had haughtily commanded to seize 

 and bind the presumptuous strangers, admonished him 

 that the danger was imminent, and must be averted 

 without delay. Hastening to Cordova, he took up 

 his residence in the castle of that place. In a short 

 time the king of the Romans, for such is the title 



