40 CALIPHS OF AFRICA. 



Massylia, with the republic of Carthage. Several 

 of these caliphs took the name of Mohammed, and 

 signalized their reigns by exploits, both naval and 

 military, not unworthy the heroic age of the Moslem 

 conquests. Numerous bodies of their troops occa- 

 sionally served in the mercenary armies of Bagdad, 

 and assisted the Abbassides in maintaining their au- 

 thority over the insurrectionary provinces of the 

 East. 



It was in the time of Almamoun that the islands 

 of Crete and Sicily were subdued by the Western 

 Arabs. The former of these conquests is passed 

 in silence by their own writers, who were indiffer- 

 ent to the fame of Jupiter and Minos. But we learn 

 from the Byzantine historians, that a piratical band 

 of Andalusian volunteers, discontented with the 

 climate or the government of Spain, had set out with 

 only a few galleys on an exploratory voyage, in quest 

 of a more genial settlement. Landing at Alexan- 

 dria, they were introduced into that city by a re- 

 bellious faction, where they cut in pieces both 

 friends and foes, pillaged the churches and mosques, 

 sold above 6000 Christian captives, and maintained 

 their station in the capital of Eg^^pt, till they were 

 repulsed by the forces of Almamoun, who had taken 

 the command in person. In their excursions among 

 the Mediterranean islands they had seen and tasted 

 of the fertility of Crete ; and with forty gaUeys 

 they soon returned to make a more serious attack. 

 Loaded with spoil they prepared to retreat ; but, 

 on descending to the shore, they were dismayed 

 to find their vessels in flames, and still more sur- 

 prised when their chief Abu Caab confessed him- 

 self the author of the disaster. In their indignation 

 they suspected him of madness or treachery. " Of 

 what do you complain ?" said the crafty leader in 

 reply to their clamours. " I have brought you to 

 a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is your 

 true country ; repose from your toils, and forget 



