394 CONQUEST OF AFRICA AND SPAIN. 



the Arabs gave the Gothic monarch, saw himself at 

 the head of 9X),000 or 100,000 men,— a formidable 

 power, had their fidehty and discipline been equal to 

 their numbers. Tarik, on learning the superiority 

 of the enemy, applied for assistance to Musa, who 

 v/as actively employed in collecting troops and pre- 

 paring transports. A reinforcement was instantly 

 despatched ; and a body of 12,000 Moslems, under 

 the conduct of Julian, who undertook to guide them 

 through the passes of the hills and gather informa- 

 tion, advanced to the neighbourhood of Cadiz, eager 

 for pillage, and anxious to try the metal of their 

 scimitars against the terrible subverters of the 

 Western Empire. 



Roderick advanced to meet the foe, and the two 

 camps were divided by the small stream of the Gua- 

 dalete. The scene of the memorable battle that de- 

 tei-mined the fate of Spain is generally understood 

 in Europe to have been near the town of Xeres ; 

 thougli the Arabs, if their geography can be trusted, 

 place it at Medina Sidonia, south from Cadiz. For 

 seven days, from Sunday till Sundajs the Goths and 

 the Saracens encountered each other's strength in 

 skirmishes and single combats. But the influence 

 of Julian, and the discontent of the Christian chiefs, 

 were secretly spreading the leaven of defection 

 among the ranks of Roderick. The two sons of 

 Witiza, who commanded the right and left wings of 

 the Gothic army, had, in the hope of regaining their 

 father's throne, stipulated with Tarik, previously to 

 the engagement, to desert the usurper in the midst 

 of the battle, on condition that the Arabian general, 

 if victorious, should secure to them their patrimo- 

 nial inheritance in Spain amounting to 3000 valua- 

 ble farms or manors. The latter did not hesitate to 

 accept their proposal, and only waited an opportunity 

 to turn their defection to the best account. 



It was not till the eighth day (about the 25th of 

 July) that the two armies joined in the deadly and 



