Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-10-25
The Jews, l.enp.


Captain Riley and his fellow-sufferprs from
ship wreck. in their journey from Santa Cruz to-
wards M"gadore. crossed remarkably danger
ous and fright ful pass, called " The Jews Leap
:" The path" says Captain Riley (which we
were obliged to follow was not more Than two
feet wide in one place, and on our left it brok"
off in preeipice some hundred feet dep. The
smallest slip of the mule or camel wonld have
plunged the beast and its rider down the rocks
to inevitable and instant death, as there was no
bush, or twig, or anything to lay hold OF by
which a man might save bis life.
Very fortunately for u.s. there had been no rain
for considerable time previous, so that the road
was now dry. Rails told me il was meyer at
tempted when il was wet, and that many fatal
accidents had happened there within his rem"n-
brance. One of these accidents h. said h" would
mention. A company of jews. six in number
proceeding from Santa Cruz to Morocco, came 10
this place with their load d mules after sunset
but in the twilight, aud bring very anvion~ t.,
get past the prrcipicr before night III, diA ~
take the precaulnn To look out and call aloud
before they entered on it for there is plac"
built at each end of this dangerous piece OF road
from which traveller may see if there are others
on il, and the path road not bring quite half
mile in length, person by shoniing Justify,
can be heard from one end to the other.
A company of Moors had entered at the other
end, going towards Santa Cruz, at the same time;
/ Y,
dare pass it at that h0nr, came on without the
usual precaution. When about half way over
the two parties met, and, unfortunately, in the
very spot where there was no possibility Of pass
ing each other. or turning about TO back either
way. The Moors were mounted well as the
Jews neither party could retire, nor could any
one except the foremost get off his mule. The
Moors soon became outrageous, and threatened
TO throw the jews down headong. The Jews,
though they had always been treated like slaves,
and forced to submit to every insult and ndg
nifty, yet finding themselves in this perous sit
ualion without the possibility of retiring, were
unwilling to break their necks merely TO accom-
m0date the MoOrs.
The foremost Jew carefully dismounted by
getting over the head OF his mule, bearing a
stout stick in his hand the Moor nearest him did
the same, and came forward TO attack him with
his scimetar. Both Jew aud Moor were fighting
for their lives, as neither could retreat the
Jews mule was first pitched down the craggy
steep aud dashed to atoms by the fall. The dew =
stick was next hacked to pieces by the seimetar
when, finding it impossible for him to save his
life, he seized the Moor in his arms, and spring
ing off the precipice, both were instantly hurled
to destruction. Two Of the Jews and one of the
Moors lost their lives in the same way, together
with eight mules and three Jews who made
shift to escape were hunted down and killed by
the relations of the Moors who lost their lives on
The pass, and the place has ever since been called
" The Jews' Leap"
"It is, indeed, enough to produce dizziness,
even in the head of sailor and if | had been
told the story" said the Captain, " when | was
sitting on this frightful ridge, am not certain
but that my Imagination might have disturbed
my faculties, and rendered me incapable of pro
c"eding with safety along this perilous PATH
We must admit that it is a story to which can
listen with much more composure on bright
morning, at ones fireside, than on dusky even
ing, at the edge of the precpce.