University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

King Boabdil found that his diminished
territory was too closely overlooked by
Christian fortresses, like Alcala la Real,
and too strictly watched by vigilant alcaydes,
like the Count of Tendilla, to be
able to maintain itself by internal resources.
His foraging expeditions were
liable to be intercepted and defeated;
while the ravage of the vega had swept
off every thing on which the city depended
for future sustenance. He felt the
want of a sea-port, through which, as
formerly, he might keep open a communication
with Africa, and obtain reinforcements
and supplies from beyond the seas.
All the ports and harbours were in the
hands of the Christians; and Granada
and its remnant of dependent territory
were completely landlocked.

In this emergency, the attention of
Boabdil was called by circumstances to
the seaport of Salobreña. This redoubtable
town has already been mentioned
in this chronicle, as a place deemed impregnable
by the Moors; insomuch that
their kings were accustomed, in time of
peril, to keep their treasures in its citadel.
It was situate on a high rocky hill;
dividing one of those rich little vegas, or
plains, which lie open to the Mediterranean,
but run, like deep green bays, into
the stern bosoms of the mountains. The
vega was covered with beautiful vegetation;
with rice and cotton, with groves
of oranges, citrons, figs, and mulberries,
and with gardens enclosed by hedges of
reeds, of aloes, and the Indian fig. Running
streams of cool water, from the
springs and snows of the Sierra Nevada,
kept this delightful valley continually
fresh and verdant; while it was almost
locked up by mountain barriers and lofty
promontories, that stretched far into the
sea.

Through the centre of this rich vega
the rock of Salobreña reared its rugged
back, nearly dividing the plain, and advancing
to the margin of the sea; with
just a strip of sandy beach at its foot,

laved by the blue waves of the Mediterranean.

The town covered the ridge and sides
of the rocky hill, and was fortified by
strong walls and towers; while on the
highest and most precipitous part stood
the citadel, a huge castle, that seemed to
form a part of the living rock; the massive
ruins of which, at the present day,
attract the gaze of the traveller, as he
winds his way far below, along the road
which passes through the vega.

This important fortress had been intrusted
to the command of Don Francisco
Ramirez de Madrid, captain-general of
the artillery, and the most scientific of
all the Spanish leaders. That experienced
veteran, however, was with the king at
Cordova, having left a valiant cavalier
as alcayde of the place.

Boabdil el Chico had full information
of the state of the garrison, and the absence
of its commander. Putting himself
at the head of a powerful force, therefore,
he departed from Granada, and made
a rapid march through the mountains;
hoping by this sudden movement, to scize
upon Salobreña, before King Ferdinand
could come to its assistance.

The inhabitants of Salobreña were
Mudixares, or Moors, who had sworn allegiance
to the Christians. Still, when
they heard the sound of the Moorish
drums and trumpets, and beheld the squadrons
of their countrymen advancing
across the vega, their hearts yearned towards
the standard of their nation and
their faith. A tumult arose in the place.
The populace shouted the name of Boabdil
el Chico, and, throwing open the gates,
admitted him within the walls.

The Christian garrison was too few in
number to contend for the possession of
the town. They retreated to the citadel,
and shut themselves up within its massive
walls which they considered impregnable.
Here they maintained a desperate
defence, hoping to hold out until
succour should arrive from the neighbouring
fortresses.

The tidings that Salobreña was invested
by the Moorish king, spread along the
coast, and filled the Christians with alarm.
Don Francisco Enriquez, uncle of the
king, commanded the city of Velez Malaga,
about twelve leagues distant, but
separated by ranges of those vast rocky
mountains, which are piled along the
Mediterranean, and tower in steep promontories
and precipices above its waves.

Don Francisco summoned the alcaydes
of his district, to hasten with him to the
relief of this important fortress. A number
of cavaliers and their retainers answered
to his call; among whom was
Fernando Perez del Pulgar, surnamed El
de las Hazañas (he of the exploits); the
same who had signalized himself in a
foray, by elevating a handkerchief on a
lance for a banner, and leading on his
disheartened comrades to victory. As
soon as Don Francisco beheld a little
band collected around him, he set out
with all speed for Salobreña. The march
was rugged and severe; climbing and descending
immense mountains, and sometimes
winding along the edge of giddy
precipices, with the surges of the sea
raging far below. When Don Francisco
arrived with his followers at the lofty
promontory, that stretches along one side
of the little vega of Salobreña, he looked
down with sorrow and anxiety upon
a Moorish army of great force, encamped
at the foot of the fortress; while Moorish
banners, on various parts of the
walls, showed, that the town was already
in possession of the infidels. A solitary
Christian standard alone floated on the
top of the castle keep, indicating that the
brave garrison were hemmed up in their
rock-built citadel.

Don Francisco found it impossible,
with his small force, to make any impression
on the camp of the Moors, or
to get to the relief of the castle. He stationed
his little band upon a rocky height
near the sea, where they were safe from
the assaults of the enemy. The sight of
this friendly banner, waving in their
neighbourhood, cheered the hearts of the
garrison; and he conveyed to them assurance
of speedy succour from the king.
In the mean time Fernando Perez del
Pulgar, who always burned to distinguish
himself by bold and striking exploits, in
the course of a prowling expedition along
the borders of the Moorish camp, remarked
a postern-gate of the castle opening
upon the steep part of the rocky hill,
which looked towards the mountains. A
sudden thought flashed upon the daring

mind of Pulgar. "Who will follow my
banner," said he, "and make a dash for
yonder postern?" A bold proposition,
in time of warfare, never wants for bold
spirits to accept it. Seventy resolute
men immediately stepped forward. Pulgar
put himself at their head. They cut
their way suddenly through a weak part
of the camp, fought up to the gate, which
was cagerly thrown open to receive them,
and succeeded in effecting their entrance
into the fortress, before the alarm of their
attempt had spread through the Moorish
army.

The garrison was roused to new spirit
by this unlooked-for reinforcement, and
were enabled to make a more vigorous
resistance. The Moors had intelligence,
however, that there was a great scarcity
of water in the castle; and they exulted
in the idea, that this additional number
of warriors would soon exhaust the eisterns,
and compel them to surrender.
When Pulgar heard of this hope entertained
by the enemy, he caused a bucket
of water to be lowered from the battlements,
and threw a silver cup in bravado
to the Moors.

The situation of the garrison, however,
was daily growing more and more critical.
They suffered greatly from thirst;
while, to tantalize them in their sufferings,
they beheld limpid streams winding
in abundance through the green plain below
them. They began to fear, that all
succour would arrive too late; when one
day they beheld a little squadron of vessels
far at sea, but standing towards the
shore. There was some doubt at first,
whether it might not be a hostile armament
from Africa; but as it approached,
they descried, to their great joy, the banner
of Castile.

It was a reinforcement, brought in all
haste by the governor of the fortress,
Don Francisco Ramirez. The squadron
anchored at a steep rocky island, which
rises from the very margin of the smooth
sandy beach, directly in front of the rock
of Salobreña, and stretches out into the
sea. On this island Ramirez landed his
men, and was as strongly posted as if in
a fortress. His force was too scanty to
attempt a battle; but he assisted to harass
and distract the besiegers. Whenever
King Boabdil made an attack upon
the fortress, his camp was assailed on
one side by the troops of Ramirez, who
landed from their island, and, on another,
by those of Don Francisco Enriquez,
who swept down from their rock;
while Fernando del Pulgar kept up a
fierce defence from every tower and battlement
of the castle. The attention of
the Moorish king was diverted, also, for
a time, by an ineffectual attempt to relieve
the little port of Adra, that had recently
declared in his favour, but had been recaptured
for the Christians by Cidi Yahye
and his son Alnayer. Thus the unlucky
Boabdil, bewildered on every hand, lost
all the advantage that he had gained by
his rapid march from Granada. While
he was yet besieging the obstinate citadel,
tidings were brought him, that King
Ferdinand was in full march, with a powerful
host, to its assistance. There was
no time for further delay. He made a
furious attack, with all his forces, upon
the castle, but was again repulsed by
Pulgar and his coadjutors; when, abandoning
the siege in despair, he retreated
with his army, lest King Ferdinand should
get between him and his capital. On his
way back to Granada, however, he in
some sort consoled himself for his late
disappointment, by overrunning a part of
the territories and possessions lately assigned
to his uncle El Zagal, and to Cidi
Yahye. He defeated their alcaydes, destroyed
several of their fortresses, burnt
their villages; and, leaving the country
behind him reeking and smoking with
his vengeance, returned with considerable
booty, to repose himself within the
walls of the Alhambra.