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government。 A woollen cap； red or green； was commonly worn as a
substitute； probably the same kind originating in Barbary； and known
by the name of Tunis or Fez； which at the present day is worn
throughout the east； though generally under the turban。 The Jews
were obliged to wear them of a yellow color。
In Murcia； Valencia； and other eastern provinces； men of the highest
rank might be seen in public bareheaded。 The warrior king； Aben Hud；
never wore a turban； neither did his rival and competitor Al Hamar；
the founder of the Alhambra。 A short cloak called Taylasan similar
to that seen in Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries；
was worn by all ranks。 It had a hood or cape which people of condition
sometimes drew over the head； but the lower class never。
A Moslem cavalier in the thirteenth century； as described by Ibnu
Said； was equipped for war very much in the Christian style。 Over a
complete suit of mail he wore a short scarlet tunic。 His helmet was of
polished steel； a shield was slung at his back； he wielded a huge
spear with a broad point； sometimes a double point。 His saddle was
cumbrous； projecting very much in front and in rear； and he rode
with a banner fluttering behind him。
In the time of Al Khattib of Granada； who wrote in the fourteenth
century； the Moslems of Andalus had resumed the Oriental costumes； and
were again clad and armed in Arabic fashion： with light helmet； thin
but well tempered cuirass； long slender lance； commonly of reed；
Arabian saddle and leathern buckler； made of double folds of the
skin of the antelope。 A wonderful luxury prevailed at that time in the
arms and equipments of the Granadian cavaliers。 Their armor was inlaid
with gold and silver。 Their cimeters were of the keenest Damascus
blades； with sheaths richly wrought and enamelled； and belts of golden
filagree studded with gems。 Their daggers of Fez had jewelled hilts；
and their lances were set off with gay banderoles。 Their horses were
caparisoned in correspondent style； with velvet and embroidery。
All this minute description； given by a contemporary； and an
author of distinction； verifies those gallant pictures in the old
Morisco Spanish ballads which have sometimes been deemed apocryphal；
and gives a vivid idea of the brilliant appearance of the chivalry
of Granada； when marshalled forth in warlike array； or when
celebrating the chivalrous fetes of the Vivarrambla。
The Generalife。
HIGH ABOVE the Alhambra； on the breast of the mountain； amidst
embowered gardens and stately terraces； rise the lofty towers and
white walls of the Generalife； a fairy palace； full of storied
recollections。 Here is still to be seen the famous cypresses of
enormous size which flourished in the time of the Moors； and which
tradition has connected with the fabulous story of Boabdil and his
sultana。
Here are preserved the portraits of many who figured in the romantic
drama of the Conquest。 Ferdinand and Isabella； Ponce de Leon； the
gallant marquis of Cadiz； and Garcilaso de la Vega； who slew in
desperate fight Tarfe the Moor； a champion of Herculean strength。 Here
too hangs a portrait which has long passed for that of the unfortunate
Boabdil； but which is said to be that of Aben Hud； the Moorish king
from whom descended the princes of Almeria。 From one of these princes；
who joined the standard of Ferdinand and Isabella towards the close of
the Conquest； and was christianized by the name of Don Pedro de
Granada Venegas； was descended the present proprietor of the palace；
the marquis of Campotejar。 The proprietor； however； dwells in a
foreign land； and the palace has no longer a princely inhabitant。
Yet here is every thing to delight a southern voluptuary： fruits；
flowers； fragrance； green arbors and myrtle hedges； delicate air and
gushing waters。 Here I had an opportunity of witnessing those scenes
which painters are fond of depicting about southern palaces and
gardens。 It was the saint's day of the count's daughter； and she had
brought up several of her youthful companions from Granada； to sport
away a long summer's day among the breezy halls and bowers of the
Moorish palaces。 A visit to the Generalife was the morning's
entertainment。 Here some of the gay company dispersed itself in groups
about the green walks； the bright fountains； the flights of Italian
steps； the noble terraces and marble balustrades。 Others； among whom I
was one； took their seats in an open gallery or colonnade commanding a
vast prospect； with the Alhambra； the city； and the Vega； far below；
and the distant horizon of mountains… a dreamy world； all glimmering
to the eye in summer sunshine。 While thus seated； the all…pervading
tinkling of the guitar and click of the castanets came stealing up
from the valley of the Darro； and half way down the mountain we
descried a festive party under the trees enjoying themselves in true
Andalusian style； some lying on the grass； others dancing to the
music。
All these sights and sounds； together with the princely seclusion of
the place； the sweet quiet which prevailed around； and the delicious
serenity of the weather had a witching effect upon the mind； and
drew from some of the company； versed in local story； several of the
popular fancies and traditions connected with this old Moorish palace；
they were 〃such stuff as dreams are made of；〃 but out of them I have
shaped the following legend； which I hope may have the good fortune to
prove acceptable to the reader。
Legend of Prince Ahmed al Kamel
or； The Pilgrim of Love。
THERE was once a Moorish king of Granada who had but one son； whom
he named Ahmed； to which his courtiers added the surname of al
Kamel； or the perfect； from the indubitable signs of superexcellence
which they perceived in him in his very infancy。 The astrologers
countenanced them in their foresight； predicting every thing in his
favor that could make a perfect prince and a prosperous sovereign。 One
cloud only rested upon his destiny； and even that was of a roseate
hue： he would be of an amorous temperament； and run great perils
from the tender passion。 If； however； he could be kept from the
allurements of love until of mature age； these dangers would be
averted； and his life thereafter be one uninterrupted course of
felicity。
To prevent all danger of the kind； the king wisely determined to
rear the prince in a seclusion where he should never see a female
face； nor hear even the name of love。 For this purpose he built a
beautiful palace on the brow of the hill above the Alhambra； in the
midst of delightful gardens； but surrounded by lofty walls； being；
in fact； the same palace known at the present day by the name of the
Generalife。 In this palace the youthful prince was shut up； and
intrusted to the guardianship and instruction of Eben Bonabben； one of
the wisest and dryest of Arabian sages； who had passed the greatest
part of his life in Egypt