was more fortunate: after routing the army,* which covered it, the wrecks of which betook themselves to Sicily or to Andalusia, he besieged the place, took it by assault, and reduced it to ashes. The Greeks reassembled under the walls of Utica; Hassan marched thither, attacked them, and by a second victory became master of the country.

The Greeks made no further resistance to the Arabs; but a Moorish princess wrested from them once more the conquest they had made. This heroine was named Kiahena:† she was the sovereign of a district in Africa, and resided in a strong place situated upon the Mountain of Evras. Having learned that Hassan meditated an expedition against her territories, she anticipated him, collected a numerous body of troops, and obtained a victory over him so complete, that he was obliged to evacuate Africa.

Five years elapsed before he could re-enter the country; which he did, at length, in the year 79 of the Hegira, with a fresh army. Kiahena reigned, after her victory, absolute sovereign of Africa. With a view of depriving the Arabs of all means of subsisting and of establishing themselves in the country, she destroyed the towns, demolished the fortresses, and cut down the trees; so that the country, which, from Tripoli to Tangiers, had been, according to the statement of Abdur-Rhaman, a succession of gardens and flourishing villages, became a frightful desert. This desperate policy expedited her ruin, by exasperating the Greeks against her: overwhelmed with despair at the ruin of their country, they made common cause with the Arabs, and had recourse to the protection of their enemies against allies who ruined under the pretext of defending them. The inhabitants of Cabis (or Capes), of Cafsa, of Constan.. tina, and of Bakrara, adopted this course. The Moorish princess, reduced by the defection of the Greeks to dependence upon her Berber troops alone, found that her predictions and her valour were vainly opposed to the Arab forces. She was defeated in a grand battle, and her death crowned the victory of the Arabs, who, meeting with no more obstacles, completed a second time the conquest of Africa, A.D. 701. Hassan governed this country until the year 89. Under his auspices, Mahommedanism and the Musulman power daily acquired fresh strength. He incorporated 12,000 Berbers with his own troops; and this measure, which seemed to advance the vanquished to an equality with their new masters, was one of the expedients which his policy dictated to make them faithful subjects and experienced soldiers.

Hassan

*This Greek army disembarked in Africa under the orders of the patrician John. Nicephorus alleges that this general, whom he mightily eulogizes, did not arrive till some time after the taking of Carthage; but that, when he did arrive, he defeated the Arabs, retook the city, as well as other places, and wintered in the country. He adds that the prince of the Saracens (by which term he means the Caliph, or his General, Hassan) fitted out, the ensuing campaign, a fleet more considerable than the former, with which he forced the Romans to retreat and made new conquests. It hence appears that Nicephorus and Novairi are at variance; but the Arabian historian here deserves more credit than the Greek author. The latter, by mistake, attributes to the patrician John, the exploits of the Princess Kiahena hereafter mentioned. This, amongst other examples, will show that we cannot arrive at an exact and complete knowledge of the history of this period, without comparing together writers of both nations.

Kiahena, in the language of this people, signified Princess, or Prophetess. In fact, this Queen, according to Novairi, did predict future events; and the ascendant she acquired, by this pretended knowledge of futurity, over the ignorant and superstitious people, contributed, without doubt, to collect under her standard a vast multitude. Perhaps she owed her success in a less degree to her courage than to this reputation, which inspired her troops with an enthusiasm capable of contending with that of the Arabs. The two nations accordingly fought with the same weapons. Priestesses of this kind were not uncommon in Africa: we find in Procopius that when the Roman fleet disembarked under the orders of Belisarius, the Mauri had recourse to their prophetesses; "for," he observes, "women predict future events amongst them, as the Oracles used to do amongst the Greeks." According to Tacitus, a practice somewhat similar existed amongst the Germans. In fact, women have acted as soothsayers under various names, as Pythia, Sybil, Witch, &c., in all ages and countries.

Hassan was recalled by the Caliph, and was succeeded by Mousa. This change occasioned several revolts of people unaccustomed to the yoke, and whom the fear of Hassan had alone retained within the bonds of duty. The new governor at first consigned the office of reducing them to his two sons. The obstinacy of the rebels, however, induced him to march against them in person. The Arabs, in this expedition, made 300,000 prisoners, of whom 60,000 were sold on account of the treasury, or reserved for public works, as slaves of the state. Their historians observe, that, since the commencement of Islam to this period, so considerable a booty of this kind had never yet been made.

The residue of the Berbers retired to Tangiers. Mousa pursued them thither, obliged them to lay down their arms, and gave them, as governor, one of his freed-men, named Tarik. Henceforward all was tranquil in Africa; and by the year of the Hegira 91 (A.D. 709) the Arabs were so well established throughout this vast country, that they thought themselves in a capacity to plan the conquest of Spain.

Such are the details of the invasion and conquest of Africa, an operation which occupied sixty-three years; a space of time far longer than was required to subdue Asia, but short in comparison with the extent of the country, and the obstinate resistance which it offered. These details are highly interesting, because the narrative of the Byzantine historians are extremely meagre upon the subject of these transactions, and most of their statements cannot be relied upon.

THE ISLAND OF BINTANG.

To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal.

SIR: In the account given in your Journal for April (p. 498) of the transfer of Malacca from the Netherlands to the British Government, which took place in April 1825, pursuant to treaty, it is stated that some difficulty might have arisen regarding the island of Rhio (meaning Bintang, on which island Rhio is situated), but that any unpleasantness was avoided by the prudence of the commissioners, who agreed to leave the matter to the decision of their respective superiors.

For the information of your readers, in reference to this subject, I beg leave to observe, that although the eighth article of the treaty, which provides for the cession of all the Netherlands establishments on the main land, does not specify Rhio, or rather Bintang; that island is specifically named in the twelfth article, among those on which his Britannic Majesty engages not to form any establishment, or enter into any dealings with the native powers.

It would appear from this (as I believe to be the case) that the island in question was not intended by the high contracting parties to be included in the interchange of territory mutually agreed on between them; and consequently that any mention of it in the eighth article was needless.

The doubt, therefore, which seems to have arisen as to the cession of that settlement, must have been owing either to some misconception on the part of the British commissioner, or to some defect of wording or otherwise, in the instructions under which he acted, leading him to suppose that the transfer of Bintang or Rhio was implied by that of Malacca, whereas it is, by the treaty, specially reserved to the Netherlands.

D.

A MISSIONARY'S MEMORIAL.

UNDER the above title, Mr. Bernard Barton, a name well known to the admirers of real poetic pathos, has published some very pleasing verses on the death of Mr. John Lawson, late Baptist missionary at Calcutta. Mr. Lawson possessed no inconsiderable share of talent for poetry; and although his more serious occupations must have engaged the chief portion of his attention, he still found time, even in that enervating climate, to cultivate acquaintance with the Muses. His last published poem, The Lost Spirit," was reviewed in our last volume (p. 195) with commendation. He died at Calcutta on the 22d October last.

cr

Mr. Barton tells us that “a few hours" only were allowed him for the composition of these verses: under such circumstances, we must not look for a perfectly finished style, but rather admire the fluency of his pen, and the facility with which he can bid the numbers come.

The opening stanzas are good :—

WHEN the stern chieftain of the feudal age
Forsook his castle for the tented field,
Roused by that Eremite, whose holy rage
For Salem's outraged sanctities appealed;
If death in such a cause his triumph sealed,
His exit failed not sympathy to claim;
His fellow-warriors of the Red-cross shield

Challenged due honours for the hero's name,
While minstrel harpers sang the bold Crusader's fame.

And when sad tidings from the Holy Land
Brought to his native shores the mournful tale,
That the departed warrior's helm and brand

No more should gleam in battle, nor the gale
Bid his broad banner turn the foeman pale;
Think not his memory in oblivion slept : ·

Though they who mourned knew grief could nought avail,
His household sorrowed, and his kindred wept,
And many a faithful heart his stern remembrance kept.

The mass was said, the dirge was duly sung,

Though distant far the Red-cross warrior's bier;
His deeds in arms were told to rouse the young,
Like him in battle-field to know not fear;
His fall was marked by beauty's silent tear,
His name enrolled in legendary song;

And every honour chivalry held dear

Was given to rescue from the nameless throng

The CHAMPION OF THE CROSS, the valiant, and the strong.

When He, the exiled Eagle-Emperor, died,

Throneless and crownless in his rocky isle,

Encircled by the ever-tossing tide

Whose waters lave that melancholy pile,

Oh! who but mourned his destiny the while?
Or when Greece wept o'er BYRON's early tomb,
How many a youthful brow its wonted smile
Awhile forbore, to share the general gloom,

To mourn the wayward CHILDE's, the Bard's untimely doom!

There

There is a deathless principle enshrined

In every heart, which prompts, howe'er we roam,
The wish, with natural feelings intertwined,

Still to return, and die in peace at home:
Though poor the fare, and humble be the dome,
Which there await us,—to that cherished spot
Remembrance turns;—'mid ocean's billowy foam
The exile's home-born joys are unforgot;

Such joys once more to taste he prays may be his lot.
And hence, when reading of self-exiled men,
Who close in distant lands their languid eyes,
That feeling which defies alike the pen

Or pencil to pourtray its mysteries;
Which opes the source of gentlest sympathies,
And bids us of such exiles' lot inquire
The cherished hope which made them sacrifice
What we ourselves so ardently desire,

And risque in climes remote 'mid strangers to expire.

The poet, on behalf of the missionary, lays a title to an equal or a higher share of sympathy, since his "modest virtues urge a two-fold claim, as poet and as preacher :❞—

Grant that thy minstrel measures may not give

Thy name with those of mightier Bards to shine;
Some reliques of thy song may long outlive

The prouder flights of favourites of the Nine,
Whose brows may now with brighter laurels shine :
The Bard, whose theme is earth, and earthly things,
May win the wreath which earthly fame can twine;
But the Palm blossoms, and the Amaranth springs
For him whose holier Muse a Saviour's triumph sings.
Cold is that lore which interdicts to song

All themes beyond the range of earth and time;
Who thus the powers of poesy would wrong,
Honour not Him who gave that gift sublime :
What though no human aids of chaunt or chime
Can deck with added beauty sacred themes;
Yet he whose thoughts and feelings heaven-ward climb,
With lovelier, purer, holier visions teems

Than earth can ever prompt, or earthly fancy dreams.

What though the force of genius may be faint
To sing the glories of the realms on high,
And poetry incompetent to paint

Beauty invisible to mortal eye;

What though no mortal numbers can supply
A dream-like echo of those songs of praise,

Which in full concord of glad sympathy

The ransomed and redeemed for ever raise,

To wake one thought of such earth's proudest theme outweighs.

And were our hearts but more redeemed from earth,

Our eyes anointed, and unsealed our ears,

Beauties and harmonies of heavenly birth

At times would hover round us ;—he who hears
Even in thought the music of the spheres,

He

He who can look through faith on "things unseen,'
Shall reap in joy, the seed now sown in tears;

Discerning-sorrow's darkest clouds between,
The bow of promised hope in cloudless skies serene.
Oh! let not then the Bard those hopes resign,
Which lead his lowly lyre to dedicate
Its powers to meek Religion's holy shrine;
Her cause the humblest gift can consecrate;
However lightly man may estimate

The simple offering on her altar laid,
Still let his soul in stedfast patience wait,

Relying on His word-who ne'er betrayed
The hope to honour HIM, through His almighty aid.
But thine were not the poet's hopes alone;
Nor can a poet's failure, or success-
Of labours ardent, pious as thine own,
Render the recompense-or more, or less:
If language must imperfectly express
The aspirations of a minstel's soul,
Well may the Missionary's heart confess

That nought but prophecy's developed scroll

His fondly cherished hopes and visions can unrol.

The following description of the apostolic missionary, St. Paul, at Athens, conjures up in the mind of the reader the magnificent picture of Raphael, and shows that if sometimes the painter borrows from the sketches of the poet, the latter, in his turn, may snatch a grace, beyond the reach of his own art, from the embodied ideas which the painter places before him

Nor less sublimely eloquent the voice

Which once on Mars's Hill, in milder tone,

Where proud Philosophy with regal choice

:

Had fixed her seat, and reared her favourite throne-
To them who bowed before their God Unknown,

In ignorant and superstitious dread

Proclaimed the worship of that God alone,

Who Israel from captivity had led,

The coming judgment-day, whose trump should rouse the dead.
There, 'mid the monuments of Grecian art,
Stood the Apostle of the Gentile world;
And with unfaltering tongue, undaunted heart,
The conquering banner of the Cross unfurled!

Vain every taunt the heartless Cynic hurled,
The Stoic's sneer, the Sophist's menaced rod,

The Epicurean's lip with doubt up-curled

Unfearing all, where science haughtiest trod,

The Christian preached his Lord, proclaimed the Living God!

Mr. Barton concludes his poem with an ardent ejaculation for the welfare of missionaries, who wander

O'er lands uncultured, and o'er stormy waters,

Where man is fiercest, billows highest foam;

and for the extension of the Christian faith over all the regions of the earth.