THE MIDDLE AGES. 
43 
Grenada ; but, when that city was besieged and 
taken by Ferdinand, sought refuge in Fez, and de- 
voted himself wholly to Arabic literature. Partly 
as a traveller, and partly as an ambassador, he tra- 
versed a great part of Africa, and composed, in A- 
rabic, the description of that continent, which still 
renders his name celebrated. Lastly, being taken 
prisoner, and brought to Rome, he attracted the 
notice of Leo X. who proved himself the patron of 
every liberal art and science. Under the auspices 
of this pontiff, Leo made a translation of his work 
into Italian, which has been reprinted by Ramu- 
sio in his Collection of Voyages. * Having been 
an eye-witness to most of the scenes which he de- 
scribes, his work forms the only original authority 
for the state of northern and central Africa dur- 
ing the period at which he wrote. Where personal 
observation failed, he unfortunately had recourse to 
very blundering and erroneous compilation. The 
coincidence, however, in many respects, of his re- 
port with the best modern information, leaves no 
doubt as to its original character ; so that it throws 
an important light, both on the progress of know- 
ledge, and the changes in the political aspect of 
this continent. 
It appears, that, in the interval between the 
* There is also a Latin translation, and one in English, 
which forms the sixth book in Purchas's collection. 
