The kings of Castile
and Portugal unitedly gave battle to this immense army on the shores of
Salado, not far from the city of Tariffe. This encounter, equally
celebrated with the victory of Toloza in the history of Spain,
terminated in the defeat of the Moors. Abil-Hassan returned hastily to
Morocco, to conceal within his own dominions his chagrin at its
unexpected and disastrous issue.

The strong place of Algeziras, the bulwark of {154} Grenada, and the
magazine in which was deposited the necessary supplies received by that
kingdom from Africa, was besieged by the Castilians A.D. 1342, Heg.
742. Several French, English, and Navarrois cavaliers resorted on this
occasion to the camp of the beleaguering army. The Mussulmans availed
themselves of the use of cannon in the defence of their city; and this
is the first time that the employment of that description of ordnance
is spoken of in history. We are told that it was used at the battle of
Cressy by the English; but that event did not take place until four
years after the date of the present siege. It is, then, to the Spanish
Moors that we owe, not the discovery of gunpowder (for that is
attributed by some to the Chinese, by others to a German monk named
Schwartz, and by others again to Roger Bacon, an Englishman), but the
terrible invention of artillery. It is at least certain, that the
Moors planted the first cannon of which we have any account. But, in
spite of the advantages it thus possessed, Algeziras was taken by the
Christians, A.D. 1344, Heg. 745.

About ten years after this event, the unfortunate Joseph, who had been
so often attacked by {155} foreign enemies, met his death from the
hands of his own subjects.

It may have been remarked by the reader, that no established law
regulated the regal succession among the Moors. Yet, notwithstanding
the perpetual conspiracies and intrigues which rendered the possession
of the crown so insecure and of such uncertain duration, a prince of
the royal race always occupied the throne. We have seen Grenada
divided, since the violent termination of the reign of Ismael, between
the factions of the _Alhamar_ and the _Farady_, and the former deposed
by the latter, who always regarded the Alhamars as usurpers. This
unhappy contest was the source of numberless disorders, conspiracies,
and assassinations.

The monarch next in order to Joseph I. on the throne of Grenada was his
uncle, a Farady prince named Mohammed