Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/76

52 52 WAR OF GRANADA. PART The first point, against which operations were — — — directed, was the strong post of Cuxar, two leagues strength of onlv from Baza, which surrendered after a brief but Baza. . desperate resistance. The occupation of this place, and some adjacent fortresses, left the approaches open to El Zagal's capital. As the Spanish army' toiled up the heights of the mountain barrier, which towers above Baza on the west, their advance was menaced by clouds of Moorish light troops, who poured down a tempest of musket-balls and arrows on their heads. These however were quickly dis- persed by the advancing vanguard ; and the Span- iards, as they gained the summits of the hills, be- held the lordly city of Baza, reposing in the shadows of the bold sierra that stretches towards the coast, and lying in the bosom of a fruitful valley, extend- ing eight leagues in length, and three in breadth. Through this valley flowed the waters of the Guad- alentin and the Guadalquiton, whose streams were conducted by a thousand canals over the surface of the vega. In the midst of the plain, adjoining the suburbs, might be descried the orchard or garden, as it was termed, of Baza, a league in length, cov- ered with a thick growth of wood, and with nu- merous villas and pleasure-houses of the wealthy citizens, now converted into garrisoned fortresses. The suburbs were encompassed by a low mud wall ; but the fortifications of the city were of uncommon strength. The place, in addition to ten thousand troops of its own, was garrisoned by an equal num- ber from Almeria ; picked men, under the command of the Moorish prince Cidi Yahye, a relative of El