New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-27
4a,,,,,,.,on q the alorlsooes from Granada.

s III csritaIinto the interior of tine country. The
iay appointed for carrying the measure into effect
was tbe Esd of June. A large body OF troops, with
tbe principal commanders, was secretly assembled N
The capital to enforce the execution of the plan.
Meanwhile raoGa were current that the NoFscoes ~
tha city were carrying on secret communication
with their countFYmen in the Alpuiarras that they
\ sunnlied the monntaineers with arms and money
that the Young men were leaving Granada to join
1 their ranks; fiualy, that conspiracy had been
planned for an assault on the city and that the
names of the leaders were given II is impossible, OF
this time to say what foundation there was for these
charges but the reader may reeollect that similar
ones had been circulated previous to the barbarous
| massacre in the prison of the EhancefY.
On the tWenty.third Of the month, on the eve Of
St Johns an edict was published commanding all
the Morisco males in Granada between ten and sixty
years age to repair to- the parish churches to which
they respectively belonged where they to learn
their fate. The women were 10 remain some time
longer in the city, to dispose of the most valuable
effects such could not easily be transported. This
not difficult at the low price for which, Id their
extremity they obliged to part with their prop
erty. Weare left in ignorance OF the fate of the
children, who, doubt remainedin the hands of the
Government, to be nurtured in the Roman Catholic
faith.
Nothing could exceed the CONSERVATION of the
Moriseoes on the publication Of this decree, for
which, though SO long suspended by thread as it
were, over their head, they wholly unprepared
It is not strange, as they recalled the atrocous
deTs perpetTaed in the prison of the Chancery that
they should have been led to believe that nothing
less than massacre of the whole Moorish population
was now designed twas in vain that the Marquis
Of Mondejar endeavored to allay their fears. They
were somewhat c0mtoTtgd by the assurance of the
President Deza given under his own hand that their
lives were in danger. But their apprehensions on
this point not wholly quieted till Don John had
pledged his royal word that no harm should come to
their perspnsthat, in short the great object of the
Government was to secure their safety. They then
submitted without any attempt resistance Resist
ance, indeed would have been hardly possible, dest
tute as they were Of weapons or other means Of de-
Tense, and surrounded all quarters by the we'll
armed sodiery Of CASTLE. They accordingly entered
the churches assigned to them at the door Of WEIGH
strong guards were stationed during the night.
On the following morning, the MOriscoes were
marched out and formed into procession, which
to take its way to the great hospital in the sub
nrbs This was a noble building, erected by the
good Queen Isabella the Catholic, not long after the
Conquest Here they were to stay till the arrange
ments were completed for forming them into divisions
according to their several places Of destination 1t
was sad and solemn spectacle, that Of this com
pany OF exiles, as they moved with slow and uncer
tain step, bound together by cords and escorted or
rather driven along like gang Of conyicts by the
fierce soldiery. There they were, the old and the
young, the rich and the poor now, alas brought to
the same level, the forms Of most Of them bowed
down, less by the weight OF years than Of sorrow
their hands meekly folded on their breasts their
cheeks wet with tears, they gazed for the last time
on their beautiful CITY, the sweet home of their in.
fancy the proud seat Of ancient empire, endeared to
The march was conducted in an orderly manner |
with but single interruption, which, however was
near being attended by the most disastrous conse-
quences. Spanish alguazil offended at some words
that fell from one OF the prisonetsfor SO they might
be called-requited them with blow from his staff. |
But the youth whom he struck had the fiery blood Of
the Arab in his veins. SnatChng up a broken tile, |
he dealt such blow the Offenders head as nearly
severed his from it, The act cost him his life
He was speedily cut down by the Spaniards, who |
rushed to the assistance OF their wounded comFade
rumor now went round that the MOriscoes had at
tempted the life of Don John whose dress resembled
In in its coors that Of the alguazi The passions Of
the soldiery were reused They hocked to the scene
OF violence uttering the most dreadful imprecaons.
Their swords and ances glittered in the air and in
few moments would have been sheathed in the bodies
Of their terrified victims
Fortunately, the quick eye Of Don John discerned /
the confusion. Surrounded by a bodyguard Of argue.
busers, he was there in person to superintend the
removal OF the Moriscoes Squirting bis horse for.
ward into the midst of the tumult and showing him
self to the troops, he exclaimed, that no one had
offered him any harm. He called on them to return /
to their duty, and not to dishonor him, as well as
themselves, by Offering violence to innocent men for
whose protection he had sGlemnly pledged his word
The soldiers abashed by the rehuke Of their young
Chief and satisfied with the vengeance they had |
taken on the offender fell back into their ranks The
trembling Moriseoes gradually recovered from their
panic the procession resumed its march and without
further interruption reached the Hospital of Isa-
bella.
4
tanning the number OF the exiles. II amounted to
thirty.iye hundred. That Of the women, who were |
soon to follow, was much greater, The names the |
ages, and the occupations OF the men were all care
fully registered. The following day they were |
marched into the great square before the hospital |
where they were distributed into companies each |
under strong escort, to be conducted to their va
rous places Of destination. These far from being
confined TO Andalusia, reached into New Castillo |
In this arrangement we may trust that so much |
respect was paid to the dictates Of humanity, as |
not to separate those of the same kindred from |
one another But the chfonclers give no informa.
tion on the subect--probably regarding details Of
this sort 10 regard to the fallen below the dig.
nifty Of history.
It vas on the 25th of June, 1863, that, bidding a
sad farewell to the friends and companions of their
youth, from whom they were now to be forever |
parted, they set forth on their doeful pilgrimage.
The morning light had broken on the red towers Of
the Alhambra, as the bands Of exiles, issuing from
the gates oil their beloved capital the spot dearest to
them on earth, turned their faces toward their new
which many OF them were destined
neverto behold. The Government with shameful in
difference, had neglected to provide for the poor
wanderers the most common necessaries OF life.
Some actually persisted OF hunger by the way.
Others, especially those accustomed from infancy to
a delicate nurture, sank down and died of fatigue.
Some were seized by the soldiers whose cupiditv was
reused by the sight OF their heplessness, and were
sold as slaves Others were murdered by their guards
in cold blood. Thus reduced tar below their original
number they reached their appointed places there to
nger out the remainder OF their days in the midst of
population who held them in that adherence with
which good Catholic Of the sixteenth century re-
garded " the enemies Of Cod
But the evils which grew ont of this stern policy
of the Government were not wholly confined 10 the |
Moriscoes. This ingenious people we're SO far supe
rior to the Spanards in the knowledge Of husbandry
and in the yarions mechanic arts, that they formed
the most important part OF the population of Ora.
NADIA The only art in which their rivals excelled |
them was that which thrVes ct the expense of every
afb tltAo at - bfg /