HISTORY OF ACHMET MOCTAR AND SIDI ALL 13 
drive Sidi Ali from his position, resolved upon blockading 
him, as we should have done with an impregnable fortress. 
This manœuvre will appear judicious, to those who are 
acquainted with the Moorish mode ot warfare : they rarely 
engage in pitched battles ; they come forth singly, man against 
man, fire their muskets, then run off at full speed, and retire to 
their camp. It may easily be conceived that the ramparts 
of Sidi Ali, attacked in this manner, would be almost im- 
penetrable. 
During this war, the deserts of Africa exhibited an 
instance of courage and attachment similar to that displayed 
by Nisus and Euryalus in the heroic ages. Four princes in 
Achmet's camp, irritated by the obstinate resistance of Sidi 
Ali, devoted themselves for the purpose of terminating hosti- 
lities, and offered to attempt to seize Sidi Ali in the midst 
of his people. Favoured by the obscurity of night, they 
penetrated into the tents of the pretender, overthrew all that 
opposed their passage, cut off the heads of six of Sidi s prin- 
cipal warriors, and, more fortunate than the Trojan heroes, 
returned to the camp of the king laden with their bleeding 
trophies. 
Achmet, whose army was composed of four hundred 
princes or great vassals, and eight hundred tributaries or 
slaves, thought it necessary to solicit assistance from the 
king of the Braknas, who sent him two thousand foot 
soldiers. Sidi Ali was to be annihilated : the destruction of 
