MONUMENT OP JOSHUA's CONQUEST OF CANAAN." 239 



learnt liow to seize, reflecting that the enemy, compelled by- 

 thirst, would be certain to come to the fountain, no other 

 water being at all near. (To all who reflected on the 

 disproportion in numbers his plan seemed that of a mad- 

 man.) 



"The Moors, after marching in column with hard toil and 

 much stifling from the [heat of] summer-time, and probably 

 from that cause suftering from the keenest thirst, came to 

 the foimtain with a great rush, not dreaming of any 

 opposition. But, when they found the water held by the 

 enemy, they all stood still, at a loss what to do, for most 

 of their strength was already spent in their craving for 

 water. Jabdas therefore came to a parley with Althias, 

 and offered to give him the third part of the booty, after 

 which surely the Moors might all quench their thirst. But 

 Althias would by no means* accept the proposal, but 

 demanded that the other should fight him in single combat 

 on their behalf; and, Jabdas having accepted the challenge, 

 it was agreed that, in case Althias was worsted, the Moors 

 should drink." 



I conclude in the quaint language of an old English 

 translator : — 



" Who AY ere glad and confident, seeing Althias a lean 

 man, not tall; Avhereas Jabdas was the goodliest and 

 valiantest of all the Moors. They were on horseback ; and 

 Jabdas threw first his javelin, which Althias caught flying 

 at him in his right hand (which amazed his enemy), and 

 with his left hand bent his bow (being both-handed) and 

 killetl Jabdas' horse. The Moors brought their prince 

 another horse, upon which he leaped up, and ran away ; the 

 Moors following in disorder. Althias recovered the captives 

 and booty, and got a great name in Africk for this act."t 



The fountain or well of Tigisis, then, was far removed 

 from any other ; it was in a narrow ])ass between two 

 heights ; and it was very well fortified. Having determined 

 this, my next step was to consult Kiepert's classical atlas ; 

 in which I found the Numidian town of Tigisis at a point 

 about 45 English miles north of the first slopes of Aurasium 



* ovtafiri, primarily nowhere, but freely used by the best authors for in 

 no wite and 7wt at all {L. and S. Lex.). 



t Translation by Henry Holcroft, Knight {Hist. Warres Justinian, 1653, 

 Book II, chap, ix, p. 37), verified by me, except that the first words ought 

 to be " The whole army of the Moors was glad." 



