The Shasta courier., 1867-01-19

tions to the Emir that he should spread the
flame of war over the benighted land of An
dalusla. Being vested with power, Musa
commenced active preparations for the expe-
dition. A large number of vessels were fitted
out In which the troops embarked, and the
command given to Taric Ibu Zeyad. Impelled
by fair wind, the shores of Africa were
soon left in the dim distance and landing
Effected at Gczira Alhadra. or the Green
Island. though feeble resistance was offered
by force of Gothic soldiery.
Actuated by the same motives as Cortez in
the conqueat of Mexico, Taric burnt the en-.
tire feet of ships, and boldly commenced the
passage to the mainland. He was opposed in
his progress by a silent knight named Tad
mir, with seventeen hundred followers but
these being no match FOR the superior num-
Der of the Mosems, were quickly vanquish
ed and put to flight. Tadmr now wrote to
X ng Roderic NY lord, there have come
forces adverse to us, from parts of Africa. -
Whether they have dropped from heaven. or
sprung up through the earth | know not,
having found them suddenly before me and
encountered them in my path. | resisted
them With all my power, and did my utmost
to maintain my position, but have been com
PEELED to yield to their numbers and the i'm.
petuosity of their attacks wherefore they
have finally encamped on our soil, in despite
OF my efforts. And now, my lord, since the
matter is thus, entreat you to succor us with
all speed, and with the largest force you can
muster. Come yourself, in person, for that
will be better than all"
Roderic, when he received these disastrous
tidings, trembled for the safety of his king
DOM Filled with terror, his throne topplng
to its fall, he hastily dispatched the flower of
his chivalrv to check the rapidity of their
advance. Forming junction with the troops
under Tadmir, they hurried toward the Mos.
lem army Skirmish after skirmish, and
charge after charge occurred between the
opposing forces. resulting in the total dis
comfture of the Goths. Continuing the march
TaIic overran the provinces of Algezera and
Sidonia-devastating them with fire and
sword, and striking terror into the hearts of
the inhahitants, till he reached the banks of
the Guadalete, where he awaited the ap.
proach of E.oderic, who was marching to at
tack him with an army of 90, 900 men.
He had not long to wait; for soon the
earth trembled and shook beneath the tread
of their numbers; the sunlight glistened on
their FURNISHED armor, while its golden beams
with silver throats, uplifted, made the air
resonant with their martial melodies. As
Taric viewed the vast host which, like an
ag ated sea, surged to and fro before him,
his critical eve detected at once the great
dsparagement in point of numbers between
the opposing forces. The Goths outnumbered
the Moslems four to one. yet large proper
ton of them were rude undisciplined horde.
n 10 ba latt ua bns
titles had been won in the bloody campaigns
of Northern Africa
1t was on a lovely Sabbath day, the Dist of
July. III, that the contending armies met in
shock Of battle. Go roar of artillery shook
the earth with its reverberating thunders :
naught save the clank OF armor, the clash of
scimitars, and the ponderous blows of the
battle axe, mingled with the tramp of steeds
and the hoarser cries of the wounded, could
be heard from early dawn till darkness,
cloaking the earth in its sable garments.
forced the armies to separate and hide from
the Sight the CORY fruits of their struggle
Night slowly waned and the orb of day came
slowly up in its trackless CORY. The combat
was renewed and continued with relentless
fury throughout the day, till the approach of
the night again put a stop to its awful hor-
Saracens, disheartened by the superior mum
ber of the enemy, began to waver and fall
back. Observing this, Taric, the fire of his
spirit lineating every feature of his counte-
nance, raised himself aloft in his strips and
hurled at them thunders of indignant elo
quence.
30 Moslems, conquerors of Armagreb, :"
he exclaimed. "whither tend vour steps p
Where hope you to find refuge? Behind you
rolls the impossible sea; before you is the
wearied foe. On, therefore Warriors and
Moslems, on Do as you see your leader
show you the example"
With this utterance still on his lips. he
spurred his charger into the ranks of the en-
envy. forced his way to where King Rodcric
sat in fancied security. aud with one blow of
his scimitar put an end to his existence
Disheartened by the loss of their King, the
Goths faltered and fed. while the scimitars
of the Moslems, like avenging angels, follow
ed in relentless and bloody pursuit. Thus
was fought the battle of Guadalete, which
virtually decided the fate of Spain, and on
the bloody field of which the bones of the
slain long remained monuments of its san.
culinary ferceness.
After the battle of Guadalete the waves of
war surged relistlessly onward Cordova,
Malaga and Toledo successfully surrendered,
while throughout the land the crescent tri
umphed over the sacred emblem of the cross.
This branch of the mighty trunk of Saracenic
greatness held potent sway for eight centu
ries before the vials of Gods impartial Jus
tice were poured upon it. Long after the sun
of its national existence had set, the vitaIiz
ing rays its literature ond science penetrat
ed the dark mists of ignorance, which, like a
pail, enshrouded the whole Of Europe, and
bursting the fetters of its dormant energies.
impelled it on the long neglected march of
civilization and progress
FAMILY CuRTosTTIEs.-Rome. Oneida coun