Ke) Unexplored Spain 
of wealth and industry introduced into Spain—to-day extinct. 
The Moors covered Andalucia with mulberry-groves: in Granada 
alone ran 5000 looms for the weaving of the fibre, and the streets 
of the Zacatin and the Alcarceria became world-markets, where 
every variety of costly stuffs were bought and sold—tafetans, 
velvets, and richest textures that surpassed in quality and 
brillianey of tint even the far-famed products of Piza, Florence, 
and the Levantine cities which since Roman days had monopolised 
the silk-supply of the world. These now found their wares 
displaced by Spanish silks; even the sumptuous “creations” of 
Persia and China met with a dangerous rivalry. 
Such was the technical skill and success of the Moors in 
agriculture and acclimatisation that, on the eventual conquest 
and final expulsion of their race from Spain, overtures were made 
with a view of inducing a certain proportion to remain, lest Spain 
might lose every expert she possessed in these essential pursuits. 
Six families in every hundred were promised amnesty on condition 
of remaining, but none accepted the offer. Deep as was their 
love for Spain—so deep that the departing Moors are related to 
have knelt and kissed its strand ere embarking, broken-hearted, 
for Africa—yet not a man of them but refused to remain as 
vassals where, for centuries, they had lived as lords. 
Such were the Moors—strong in war, yet equally strong in 
all the arts and enterprises of peace, filled with energy, an 
industrious and a practical race. It is safe to say that under 
their regime the resources of this difficult land were being 
developed to their utmost capacity.' 
Of the final expulsion of the Moors (and that of the Jews was 
analogous) ’tis not for us to write. Yet, for Spain, both events 
proved momentous, and, along with the antecedent practices of 
the Moriscos, provide side-lights on history that are worth 
consideration.” 
? The term ‘‘ Moor” has always seemed to us a trifle unfortunate, as tending to indicate 
that the conquering race came from Morocco—‘‘ Turks” or ‘* Arabs” would have been a more 
appropriate title. For fifty years after the conquest Spain was governed by Emirs subject to 
the Kaliphs of Damascus, the first independent power being wielded by the Emir Abderahman 
IIL. who, in 777, usurped the title of Kaliph of Cordoba, That kaliphate, by the way, during 
its earlier splendours, became the centre of universal culture, Cordoba being the intellectual 
capital of the world, with a population that has been stated at two millions. 
® For the information of readers who have not studied the subject, it may be well to add 
that, during the early years of the seventeenth century, something like a million of Spanish 
Moors—the most industrious of its inhabitants—were either massacred in Spain or, expelled 
from the country. 
