66 STRONG POSITION OF SANTA CRUZ.

the whole of the interior of North Africa. An attempt of this kind was made about forty or fifty years since, by the Danes, who anchored with several ships, and landed a mile south of Agurem ; and with stones, all ready cut, and numbered, erected on an eminence*", by the dawn of the following day, a battery of twelve guns. But by a stratagem of the bashaw Ei Hayanie, who at that time was bashaw of Suse, they were rendered unable to retain possession of their fort ; their plans were accordingly disconcerted, and the adventurers retreated, and returned to their ships.

At the south-east extremity of the wall of Santa Cruz there is a round battery, which protects the town from west to east ; and might be made to protect the valley to the east of the mountain. This battery, with a little military skill, might be made to protect every access to the town, not protected by the battery before mentioned, which is situated about half way up the western declivity of the niountain, and which commands or secures the fonte, of spring, against an attack from any hostile force.

« Called Agadeer Arba.