64 CALIPHS OF SPAIN. 



appear larger than its natural size, a stratagem that 

 frequently threw the Christian army into confusion. 

 Their arms were a peculiar kind of knotted staves, 

 or rather pikes, termed armas, which they drove 

 furiously against the enemy. The massy silver 

 of their belts, their bridles, and their swords, dis- 

 played the magnificence of a prosperous nation. 

 Their accoutrements were light, and not like those 

 of the Christians, who were completely cased in 

 steel. Their combats generally consisted in personal 

 encounters rather than regular engagements ; each 

 man fighting for himself until the strongest or 

 bravest remained masters of the field. Beyond this, 

 indeed, the military knowledge of the Spaniards 

 themselves was not much advanced ; but their in- 

 fantry was superior to that of the Moors, inasmuch 

 as they could both attack and resist a charge in a 

 body, while the latter, unaccustomed to such a mode 

 of assault, was scarcely of any service. This defect, 

 however, was amply compensated by the superiority 

 of the Moorish cavalry, which was composed of 

 horsemen selected from the best families, and mount- 

 ed on excellent chargers, to the management of 

 which they were trained from infancy. Instead of 

 waggons, they were attended by a long train of 

 camels, mules, and asses ; the multitude of these 

 animals, whom they bedecked with flags and ensigns, 

 appeared to swell the pomp and magnitude of their 

 host; and the horses of the enemy were often thrown 

 into disorder by the uncouth figure and odious smell 

 of the camels of the East. Their order of battle 

 was a long square of two deep and solid lines, the 

 first consisting of archers, the second of cavalry. In 

 general actions they were accustomed to make their 





