[1] Formerly Illiberis, the Roman town at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, about six miles from Granada.
[2] Kilaat Al-hamra, the red castle.
[3] Sheníl is the Singilis of the Romans. The name of another “considerable stream” of Granada—the Darro—is derived from Hadároh in Arabic, probably from Hadár, which means the rapidity with which a swollen river comes down from the mountains; a description well defining the character of the river Darro, which rushes down the hill-side and comes boiling along its channel at the foot.
[4] The Moors were not finally expelled from Spain until 1610.
[5] It is a little singular that not only the Arab Governor of North Africa, Viceroy of the Caliph Welid, who despatched from Ceuta the invading forces under Tarif and Geb-al-Tarik, bore this name; but, eight centuries afterwards, the gallant hero who alone was able to rouse the lethargic Boabdil from his stupor to make a last stand for Islam, bore it also. The name of Musa of Granada must always be honoured as that of a fearless knight who, disdaining to surrender, at the last rode through a score of Christian knights, killing many of them; and, when too weak to continue the struggle, threw himself, encumbered with armour, into the river Xenil, thus meeting his end.
[6] The Conde de Tendilla, the first Alcayde of the Alhambra, raised the tomb to be seen in the Cathedral of Granada, where lies Fernando “the Good,” of Talavera, first Archbishop of Granada, who died 14th May, 1507. The Count inscribed it “Amicus Amico.”
[7] “Boabdil” is a corruption of Abu’ Abdillah, or Boabdila, as the Spaniards pronounced the name. He was, in addition to his sobriquet of “the Unlucky,” also called As-sagher, or “the lesser” (el rey chico), to distinguish him from his uncle and successor, Abu’ Abdillah (Mohammed XII.)
[8] In the Hall of the Ambassadors, or Golden Saloon, is an inscription referring to this:—“The best praise be given to Allah! I will remove all the effects of an Evil Eye upon our master Yúsuf.”
[9] Edited by Pablo Lozano. The antiquities and history of the Moorish domination in Spain remained unheeded until representations were made that research and accurate delineation would alone make their monuments intelligible. The Royal Academy of St. Ferdinand was commissioned to make drawings of the Palace of the Alhambra and of the Mosque of Córdova. The result of their labours were published at Madrid, in 1780, in a folio volume entitled as above, with sixteen plates of Arabic designs, accompanied by a few pages of letterpress. It is an exceedingly rare volume.
[10] Madrid, 1780 (already referred to).